Two goals from captain Jeff Hughes helped the Invermen to record a 4-0 win away to Institute, at a windswept Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
The atrocious conditions played havoc throughout the 90 minutes, with both teams deserving credit for the football played on the day.
Larne were up against the wind the in the first half, but still managed to credit opportunities against the league’s bottom side.
The best of those chances came on 36 minutes, when John Herron did well to present Davy McDaid with a one-on-one opportunity, however Rory Brown was out quickly to save the opportunity.
The deadlock was broken seven minutes into the second half in unfortunate circumstances for the home side. Lee Lynch’s inviting inswinging cross from the left was headed into his own net by Conor Tourish.
The lead was then doubled on 63 minutes, after some fine play from the visitors. Davy McDaid’s back heel between full-back and centre half allowed Herron to race to the byline and his cross from the left was slammed home by McDaid inside the six yard box.
Larne were well in control at this point and two became three just five minutes later. This time Jeff Hughes picked up the ball all of 35 yards out, in a central position, and left fly with a shot which was misjudged by Brown in the home goal.
Tiernan Lynch’s men made it 4-0 on 70 minutes when goalkeeper Brown brought down McDaid inside the box. Hughes then stepped up to slam the ball down the middle of the goal.
Joe Tully was introduced for his debut shortly after this and he won a penalty with 15 minutes on the clock. However, Jeff Hughes missed out on his hat-trick, when Brown produced a fine save low down to his left to make the save.
The lively Tully still had time to create an opportunity for fellow substitute Ben Tilney, when he swept the ball to the back post, but Tilney was denied by another fine stop from Brown.
Larne: Devlin, Flowers, Watson, Herron (Tully, 73mins), Sule, McDaid (Randall, 77 mins), Donnelly (Tilney, 79 mins), Lynch, Cosgrove, Hughes, Jarvis
Subs: Pauley, Kelly, Ramsey, Gilmour
Next up for the Invermen is Friday night’s trip to Stangmore Park, to take on Dungannon Swifts. Kick-off is 7.45pm.
