Larne manager Tiernan Lynch credited his side for “riding the storm” as they saw off a resilient Linfield side 1-0 in Saturday’s crunch Sports Direct Premiership tie at Windsor Park, thanks to a Conor McKendry strike.
After a cagey opening 45 minutes, it was David Healy’s men who piled on the pressure in the third quarter of the game.
Kirk Millar was a constant threat down the right-hand side, while Joel Cooper had a shot well saved by Reds’ stopper Rohan Ferguson, after teasing the visitors’ defence inside the area.
Euan East then had two headed attempts within a matter of seconds, both of which were also stopped by the Scottish Inver stopper.
However, for all their pressure and opportunities, Healy’s troops lacked a clinical edge and failed to trouble the scoreboard, before they were ruthlessly punished at the other end 11 minutes from time.
A long clearance down field was controlled by Matty Lusty, who darted inside, beating Chris Shields and twisting his way through on goal.
His left-footed shot was well saved by Chris Johns in the Linfield goal, but substitute McKendry was on hand to rifle home from eight yards.
Matthew Fitzpatrick had a chance to grab an equaliser at the death after finding himself unmarked inside the box, but his header was meek and bounced harmlessly into the arms of a welcoming Ferguson.
Prior to kick-off there was concern amongst Larne fans as a Blues’ win would have opened up a huge 15-point gap between the sides.
However, after the Harbour men took victory, the cavity separating the two is down to nine, with the Reds’ having three games in hand, with Lynch remarking of the resilience shown.
“You’re never confident when you’re under pressure,” he said.
“There are top players at Linfield and they’ve been scoring a lot of goals of late, but they’re [Larne players] a resilient bunch in there and they work very hard at what they do.
“Great credit to them. They stood firm. You’re always going to have difficult periods when you come to Windsor Park. They’re a top side and David [Healy] is a top manager.
“You’ve got to be able to ride the storm at times. Sometimes you come through them, sometimes you don’t. You’ve also got to make sure that when you get your chances, you take them.”
Lynch reserved special praise for Lusty, whose contribution to the goal, as well as operating dangerously on the counter-attack throughout, gave Larne an “out” when they most needed it.
After being on loan at Dungannon Swifts last term, the attacking winger feels like a new signing.
“He’s a very exciting young player with bags of ability, he just needed games. He just needed to go and play senior football,” the manager explained.
“The best teacher of the game is obviously ‘the game’, and that’s what he needed when he went to Dungannon last year.
“He showed last year that he can play at this level and score goals at this level. He’s shown he can mix with the best of them,” concluded Lynch.
Opposing manager Healy was left a frustrated figure after the game after seeing his side squander too many opportunities.
“We just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal,” said the former Northern Ireland International.
“It is hugely frustrating when you see the opportunities we created but we have no-one to blame but ourselves.
“I think we worked very hard and there wasn’t much in the game but we took no points and that is what matters at this level.
“Now we have to look ahead to another huge game on Tuesday against Cliftonville and pick ourselves up to go once again.”