Larne and Carrick Rangers shared the points after an uneventful scoreless East Antrim Derby at Inver Park.
It was a game where Larne failed to create many clearcut openings across the 90 minutes, with Carrick taking home a deserved point.
The game had a quiet opening and the best chance of the first half came with 19 minutes on the clock.
Ronan Hale picked up the loose ball on the left angle of the box and let fly with a shot which looked like it was top corner-bound, only for goalkeeper Neil Shields to turn it over, at full stretch.
The home side did have the ball in the net on 32 minutes through Thomas Oluwa, but Hale was flagged for offside.
Larne then almost broke the deadlock in fortuitous circumstances on 36 minutes. Hale chased down a clearance from Shields, but the ‘keeper recovered to gather before it crossed the line.
The second half was more of the same with Larne struggling badly to break down a resolute visiting team.
The golden chance came two minutes from time as two substitutes combined. From the left blank Andy Scott whipped in a cross to the back post. Davy McDaid took a touch before blazing over the bar.
Mark Randall had the ball in the net in stoppage time for Larne, but the offside was up as Carrick comfortably held on for a point.
Full-time: Larne Carrick Rangers 0
Larne: Ferguson, Balmer, Nasseri, Randall, Hale (’61 McDaid), Doherty (’76 Scott), Oluwa (’46 Lynch), Bolger, Cosgrove, Hughes (’61 Mitchell), Jarvis
Unused subs: Argyrides, Kelly, Watson
Carrick Rangers: Shields, Forsythe, Surgenor, Ervin, McGuckin (’71 Gibson), Gawne, Cherry (’86 Kalla), Nixon (’82 Kelly), Glendinning, Tilney, Anderson
Unused subs: Shannon, Mulholland, McGimpsey, Millar
Referee: Tony Clarke
