LARNE left San Marino with a 1-0 win to ensure we have a slim advantage going into the second leg at Inver Park against Tre Fiori on Tuesday night.
Lusty continued his fine form at the end of last season by scoring right on the stroke of half-time to break the deadlock.
Dan Bent had an effort and Montel Gibson was denied by a fine save earlier in the half, but a well-worked move down the right flank unlocked the home side.
Ronan Doherty’s disguised pass from a free-kick sent Tomas Cosgrove away down the right and captain stood up a cross to the back post for Sam McClelland to head back across goal and Lusty was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
He scored a second goal 13 minutes from time, but referee Artem Gasparyan was sent to the monitor by the VAR and it was ruled out for an infringement in the build-up.
It ensured the game finished 1-0 at the San Marino stadium, meaning there is all to play for in the second leg at Inver Park on Tuesday 14th July. You can buy your ticket HERE
Tre Fiori: Nardi, Syku (’62 Pesaresi), Rea, Sirri, D’Addario (’56 Ponticelli), Bertani, Sami, Mengucci (’56 Berardi), Benedettini (’78 Dolcini), Bernardi (’78 Manara), Prandelli
Subs: Castagnoli, Sancisi, L. Censoni, Ben Kacem, L. Terenzi
Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, S Graham (’88, Ridley, McClelland (’46 Magee), Donnelly, Gallagher, Bent, Doherty (’62 Doherty), Gibson (’62 Ukek), Lusty (’78 O’Hara)
Subs: D Graham, Wallace, McKendry, Randall, Millar, Sloan, Simpson
Referee: Artem Gasparyan (Armenia)
.
