LARNE secured a hard-earned win away to PSNI with Marty Donnelly’s penalty and Ben Tilney’s first goal for the club enough to give the away side victory despite PSNI pulling one back late on.
For much of the game, Larne were kept out by a solid PSNI back four and only guaranteed the win late on. The Inver Reds triumph at Newforge Lane leaves them four consecutive league games unbeaten.
On 11 minutes, Donnelly was able to get on Tomas Cosgrove’s cross from the right but put his header over.
Just before half an hour, at the other end, Lukasz Adamczyk squandered a headed chance in the box.
On the stroke of half-time, Cosgrove crossed from the right-wing into Jeff Hughes, but likewise he sent his header over the crossbar.
On 46 the deadlock was broken. Donnelly calmly converted from the spot past Jordan Williamson after Stuart was fouled in the area.
Then, on 70 minutes, Ben Tilney shook off a PSNI defender and left the bar shaking after his ball into the box struck off the goalframe.
Tilney did add Larne’s second on 81 minutes however, when he slotted home after an excellent move down the left.
The home side pulled one back on 90 minutes when Jake McNeill struck a dipping volley past Conor Devlin from distance.
Despite PSNI’s search for a last-minute equaliser during the five minutes of stoppage time, the Invermen held on to gain all three points.
PSNI: Williamson, Ferguson, Riddle, McCrory (Hutchinson), Simpson, Cochrane (J. Wilson), D. Wilson, McNeill, Adamczyk, Malone, Moody (Anderson)
Unused subs: Tumelty, Montgomery
Larne: Devlin, Finnegan, Ramsey (Kelly), Donnelly, Stuart (Osei-Bonsu), Tilney, Hassin, McNally, Gilmour (Scullion), Cosgrove, Hughes
Unused subs: Henry, Dougherty
Larne return to Inver Park on Friday 7th September to face H&W Welders.
