RATHFERN Rangers got off to a winning start in 1A with this East Antrim derby victory over a very youthful Larne Tech Old Boys at the Diamond, Rathcoole.
Manager Ian Bustard wasn't entirely happy with his side's performance, though he was content in that "it was good to get a win which is the main thing."
"We started the way we were last season, scoring goals but conceding too many. We just have to learn to defend better. I got three centre halves during the summer but none of them were available, so I was back to what I had, and we just played the same. It was there for everyone to see why I was looking for new defenders in the first place. With no disrespect to the Tech, it's just as well it wasn't Sirocco we were playing in that second half – we're just not picking up our men.
"While the Tech came into it in the second half, we should have had the game over by half time and could have been five up," he said.
Meanwhile, Ian's opposite number Ciaran (CK) Kelly maintained "We were unlucky. The tight pitch didn't really suit us and I'm disappointed we didn't get something in the second half. We hit the post at 2-1 and then had a clear penalty turned down at 3-2. I'm proud of all the players because they could have dropped the heads at half time but they gave it their all."
Incidentally, each side had two penalty appeals waived aside. As Bustard quipped, "I thought they were all penalties, but it evened itself out, they could have had two and so could we."
It was Rathfern who dictated terms in the opening half and would have set the scoreboard clicking had Colin Andrews not pinged one off a post while Alan Solomon plonked an unmarked header over the bar.
Rangers eventually lit the fuse on 19 minutes when Neil Lovell and David McCrea combined to hatch out an opening for Mark McKay to place the ball past the helpless Martin Ward.
Rathfern doubled their lead six minutes later when Tech defender, Tony Rankin, in trying to shake off the persistent David Moore, turned Andrews' penetrating pass wide of Ward.
While Ryan Kane and Daryl Kernohan both came close for the Craigyhillians, it was Rathfern who should have had it all done and dusted with Ward pulling off fine saves to deprive Moore, Andrews and McKay, while Solomon directed another uncontested header over the bar.
Just after the turnaround, however, it was soon 'game on', with Kernohan tucking away a Lee Magill cross.
While Ward pulled off more heroics to twice frustrate Moore, the Tech could have been back on terms had Kernohan not been denied by the woodwork.
Rathfern, however, established a welcome comfort zone on 70 minutes when Andrews scrambled the ball in at the third attempt, after the Old Boys failed to decisively clear a McCrea free kick
The Tech, nevertheless, never gave up, once again narrowing the gap thanks to a fine finish from Turkish import, ex Larne defender Sancer Yilmaz.
Next Saturday, Rathfern face a Steel and Sons Cup trip to Crumlin United, while the Tech return to Craigyhill for the visit of East Belfast.
Rathfern Rangers: Langley – Logan, Solomon, N Lovell, Phillips (S Benson) – Doherty (N Crawford), Gardiner, McCrea, McKay (Weir) – Andrews, D Moore.