Sports Direct Premiership
Larne 2 Coleraine 0
HEADED goals from Joe Thomson and Leroy Millar gave Larne an important 2-0 win at home to Coleraine.
The victory also moved them to within two points of leaders Linfield, although the Blues will enjoy a game in hand.
With Linfield’s game at Crusaders on Saturday postponed because of international call-ups, Friday's game took on extra significance in allowing the reigning Champions to gain further ground at the top, having won at Windsor Park last week.
Coleraine endured a torrid opening 15 minutes in this tie, going a goal either side of injury to two of Oran Kearney's attacking talents.
Firstly, top scorer Matthew Shevlin hobbled off after 10 minutes, having struggled to recover from an early heavy challenge from home skipper Cian Bolger.
Less than a minute later and their night went from bad to worse as Larne broke the deadlock.
Leroy Millar played a clever ball down the left which sent Sean Graham racing clear and he delivered a pinpoint cross and Joe Thomson thundered home a header.
It also continued the superb goalscoring run for the Scottish midfielder, who moved into double figures with the early strike.
Coleraine were then forced into their second enforced substitution in the opening 15 minutes when Andy Scott’s night was ended by what looked like a hamstring problem, as it turned into an opening quarter to forget for the visitors.
The home side were next to threaten when Levi Ives' low effort tested Deane at his near post. Despite Larne building the early momentum, Coleraine were almost presented with an equaliser 11 minutes from the break.
Goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson was caught dwelling on the ball inside his own box, giving Jamie Glackin a chance to slide the ball under him, but Bolger was alert on the line to clear the danger.
The game then turned into a scrappy affair until it burst into life at both ends with 10 minutes to go. Firstly, Jamie Glackin swung in an inviting cross from the left with substitute Andy Mitchell failing to get a clean connection on the ball as he headed well over.
Then, almost immediately at the other end another sub, Lee Bonis, should have put the game to bed when he broke the offside trap to race clear on goal. However, to Gareth Deane’s credit the goalkeeper got a telling touch to send the ball inches wide of the post.
With a minute to go, they did manage to grab the killer second goal from a set piece. Levi Ives delivered an outswinging corner from the left and it was met by the head of Leroy Millar who directed his effort into the top right corner, leaving Deane with no chance and ensuring Larne kept all three points.
Larne Ferguson, Donnelly (’70 Want), Thomson (’57 Ryan), Randall (’83 Glynn), O’Neill (’57 Bonis), Ives, Bolger, Millar, Cosgrove, Graham
Subs Dowling, Farquhar, Lloyd
Coleraine Deane, D Jarvis, Kelly (’64 Mitchell), McKendry, Shevlin (’11 McDaid), Carson, Farren, Glackin, O’Mahony, Wallace (’64 A Jarvis), Scott (’18 Devine)
Subs Gallagher, McCrudden, Gaston
Referee Keith Kennedy
