REIGNING Sports Direct Premiership champions Larne are aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign as they welcome Ballymena United to Inver Park this evening.
Tiernan Lynch’s side drew with Dungannon in the opening round before seeing off Glentoran last Friday evening 2-1, with Micheal Glynn and Andy Ryan rattling the net for the victors.
Those two game-winning goals added to the four claimed in the first outing, with Ryan scoring in both encounters, and if that goalscoring form can be maintained throughout the season, then Larne should be in a good place.
But what will concern Lynch and his players is the concession of five goals in the opening two games, so Larne may try to batten down the hatches and concentrate on keeping a clean sheet against Ballymena, just as they did three times last season.
Jim Ervin’s side have made a stuttering start to the campaign, losing to Coleraine and Crusaders by one goal each, both on the scoreline of 2-1.
It’s too early in the season to be worrying about league positions, but the Sky Blues will be eager to get some points on the board as soon as possible.
At the other end of the table currently sit league leaders Coleraine, who are the only team in the competition who have gone two from two following recent victories over Ballymena and league newbies Loughgall.
Last year’s league top scorer Matthew Shevlin has picked up where he left off last season and his double saw Oran Kearney’s side past Ballymena while Conor McKendry and Andrew Mitchell scored in their 2-1 victory over Loughgall.
Coleraine travel to Carrick Rangers tonight and are expected to continue their winning form. Carrick have only had one game so far, and that ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Newry City.
Linfield have also only had just one outing but they made it count as they saw off Dungannon Swifts 2-3 on Saturday. Although marginally comfortable, Ben Gallagher’s late goal left a nervy finish for Linfield, but they got over the line in the end.
Their back on home turf tonight as they welcome Glenavon to Windsor Park and David Healy’s side are coming up against a side that are in a poor run of form lately having lost to Glentoran and Cliftonville in the early rounds.
Cliftonville were worthy 3-0 winners against Glenavon on Saturday and Jim Magilton’s men travel to Newry City this evening. Joe Gormely claimed a brace of goals last weekend while Sean Stewart also got in on the scoring act.
Newry City will be keen to ratify the result from their last home tie, which they lost to Loughgall, although they did follow it up with a 2-0 win over Carrick Rangers in round two.
Glentoran are also on the road as they head to Lakeview Park to take on Loughgall. Dean Smith’s charges made a brilliant start to life in the top tier, defeating Newry City 3-0 on the opening day, but Coleraine brought them back down to earth on Friday.
Glentoran were on the losing end of a 2-1 scoreline last Friday, against Larne, so they’ll be keen to get back to winning ways. Crusaders meet Dungannon tonight and can build on their 2-1 victory over Ballymena last week.
Dungannon on the other hand have hit six goals in two games and have yet to pick up a win. They drew with Larne 4-4 on the opening day before losing to Linfield 2-3. If they can keep their form in front of the posts good, they’ll have a chance at Seaview tonight.
