MATCH REPORT: Ballyclare Comrades 0 Larne 2

Championship 1: Larne completed the double over neighbours Ballyclare Comrades when a converted penalty in either half - courtesy of Paul Maguire and Ciaran Murray - earned them a 2-0 win at Dixon Park.
Ballyclare manager Eddie Hill and Larne's Davy McAlinden.Ballyclare manager Eddie Hill and Larne's Davy McAlinden.
Ballyclare manager Eddie Hill and Larne's Davy McAlinden.

The home side had the better of a scrappy opening 45 minutes but after the break the visitors showed more determination to secure the points. At the end of a difficult week for Larne, it was good to get back to matters on the pitch.

“The result was all that mattered today, we have played better to say the least but we are delighted with the three points,” said Larne boss Davy McAlinden. “Despite the performance, all the players did what was asked of them. They didn’t really hurt us and on another day we might have scored a few more.”

The first chance of the game fell to Andrew Simpson on eight minutes but his shot was comfortably saved by John Connolly.

Larne took the lead five minutes later when Maguire converted from 12 yards after Thomas Robinson had been fouled.

A Sam McIlveen corner then set up a chance for the unmarked Gary Brown but he headed wide from eight yards.

Ballyclare finished the first half strongly but failed to make the most of their possession.

Maguire almost doubled his and Larne’s tally just after the break but his header was scrambled clear.

The visitors sealed the win 10 minutes from time. Substitute James McCabe was taken down by Chris Getty and this time Murray took the spot-kick, hammering it high into the net.

BALLYCLARE COMRADES: Flood, Doherty, Buckley, McIlveen, Doyle, Getty, Brown (Browne 76), McGowen, Reid, Simpson (Duffin 63), Cooper. Unused Subs: McCart, Keane, McClurg.

LARNE: Connolly, Smith (Todd 86), McClean, Reynolds, McMullan, G.Gillan, E.Gillan, King, Maguire (McCabe 47), Murray, Robinson (Scott72). Unused Subs: C.Gillan. C.Stitt.

Referee: Simon Creaney.