Peter Wilson reports from Stangmore Park
Larne earned a reasonably comfortable 2-0 win over a spirited Dungannon Swifts side at Stangmore Park.
Goals from Marty Donnelly and Fuad Sule helped Larne earn their fifth consecutive win to continue their fine form.
Despite having much of the possession early on, it was Dungannon who had the better of the chances.
With six minutes gone, Caolan McAleer swung his free-kick in from the right hand side towards goal and Conor Mitchell did well to tip it away.
On eight minutes, possession was given away by Harry Flowers with Daniel Hughes profiting but Albert Watson got himself in the way of the low goal bound shot.
At the other end on 11 minutes, Tomas Cosgrove played the ball low across the face of goal from the right but Lee Lynch couldn’t get on the end of it.
Just before the half hour mark, Mitchell did well to save Oisin Smyth’s shot from a McAleer corner.
However it was Larne who took the lead just nine minutes later as Cosgrove crossed in from the right, keeper Conor Byrne punched the ball into the path of Lynch but recovered to save the midfielder’s effort. Marty Donnelly was on hand to roll the ball into the net with a composed finish.
The Invermen doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Fuad Sule’s shot from 20 yards evaded Byrne as the Swifts stopper let the ball slip through his hands and into the net.
Jeff Hughes sought to make it three goals in two games when his shot whistled just past the near post after Lynch had crossed in from the right.
Larne will be pleased with yet another win to continue their fine form and heading toward the split, Larne’s place in the top six is now secured.
Dungannon Swifts: C. Byrne, R. Redman, D. Wilson (c) (F. Brennan 75), D. King, D. Hughes, O. Smyth, K. Lowe, C. Coyle, C. McAleer, R. Campbell (M. Patton 68), S. McGinty (M. Carvill 71)
Unused Subs: S. Johnston, A. Teggart, R. Waide, G. Keke
Larne: C. Mitchell, H. Flowers, A. Watson, J. Herron (A. Mitchell 61), F. Sule, D. McDaid (J. Tully 88), M. Donnelly (B. Tilney 75), L. Lynch, T. Cosgrove, J. Hughes (c), D. Jarvis
Unused Subs: C. Devlin, G. Kelly, C. Ramsey, C. Gilmour
Referee: Steven Gregg
Up next for Larne is a home game against Warrenpoint Town on Saturday 22 February. Kick off at Inver Park at 3pm.
