LARNE’S European adventure will continue in the Conference League after an extra-time defreat away to FC Iberia 1999 in Georgia.
With the tie still locked at 0-0 until the closing stages the home side broke the deadlock on 74 minutes when Vakho Bedoshvili let fly with a low effort from just over 20 yards out which flew into the net.
However, Larne responded within two minutes and it owed much to the tenacity of Dan Bent after the defender won the ball in midfield before surging forward before the ball was eventually worked out to the right.
From here captain Tomas Cosgrove fired the ball into the box where Gibraltar international Bent was again on hand to lay it off to James Simpson – only on the pitch for 10 minutes – and the teenager calmed slotted a left-footed effort into the bottom right corner.
With the score still locked at 0-0 the tie was decided seven minutes into extra-time when Nikoloz Dadiani lofted a inch-perfect pass behind the Larne defence and despite Matt Ridley getting the first touch he could only play if off Nika Sikharulashvili who scored past the onrushing Ferugson to claim the victory.
Gary Haveron’s men will now move into the Conference League play-offs and a tie against Lincoln Red Imps for a place in the League Phase of this season’s UEFA Conference League.
Iberia 1999: Makaridze, Kobuladze, Amisulashvili, Selimovic, JInjolava, Kardava (’78 Alhassan), Dadiani, Kutsia (’64 Bartishvili), Bedoshvili (’78 Dzagania), Sikharulashvili (‘115 Ende), Natchkebi (‘115 Kuliev)
Subs: Megrelishvili, Kurtanidze, Chikhradze, Botchorishvili, Gogliashvili, Avdoevi, Chanturia.
Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove (‘100 Wallace), Bent, Ridley, Donnelly, Graham (‘105 McKendry), Gallagher, Doherty (’64 Simpson), Sloan (’78 McEneff), Gibson (’64 O’Neill), Lusty (’78 Ukek)
Subs: Carney, Randall, Magee, O’Hara,
Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway)
