Dick bags hat-trick as Larne knock Coagh for six

The visitors had been well in touch in the opening forty five minutes but after the break it was one way traffic towards the Coagh goal. It was a night to remember for Larne striker Adam Dick fired in a superb hat-trick.

In a fairly even first half Larne had the first chance on five minutes. Reid raced into the box and crossed low for Todd who just failed to apply the finishing touch. Two minutes later a corner from Thornton fell nicely to Gardiner who dragged his shot wide.

Another surging run from Reid opened up the visitors defence on twelve minutes. His pass picked out McMennamin but his shot was blocked for a corner by Calderwood. Coagh were playing the more enterprising football but their final ball continually let them down.

They had a good chance to go in front when Gardiner found space on the left. The best option was a pass to the unmarked Dallas but he decided to go for glory leaving Brown with an easy save. McNally's superb pass to McMennamin after twenty two minutes saw the nippy winger send over a dipping cross with Kempton in the Coagh goal relieved to see it rebound off the crossbar. Brown produced a fine save to keep the sides level five minutes later getting down smartly to smother a well struck shot from Dallas.

The Reds had the ball in the net two minutes before the break when Todd ran onto a Larmour flick to lob the ball over Kempton but the assistant on the far side ruled it out for a marginal offside.

After the break Larne stepped it up a gear and two goals in the space of a minute put them in the driving seat. With fifty one minutes on the clock the home side were awarded a free kick just outside the box on the right.

Dick stepped up to curl a sweetly struck shot wide of Kempton into the corner. Before Coagh had time to recover a long throw in from Reid bobbled about in the box before Dick stepped in to hammer it home.

The third arrived on fifty eight minutes. White's long ball out of defence fell to Todd. He showed great persistence to shake of the defender then crack a low shot into the net. The Reds were rampant at this stage playing fluent football and full of confidence.

There was a slight blip however when Dallas was fouled in the box he took the spot kick himself sending Brown the wrong way. Normal service was resumed as Larne restored their three goal lead nineteen minutes from time.

McMennamin burst down the right flank and got to the byeline to cut the ball back for McLaughlin who had a simple tap in from two yards. Two subs combined for the fifth on eighty six minutes. McConnaghy's ball down the middle was picked up by Thompson who kept a cool head to slot the ball past Kempton.

A minute later Dick completed his hat-trick. He chased down what looked like a lost cause on the left. With players queuing up in the middle a cross looked likely. The young striker had other ideas however and from what looked like an impossible angle he hammered the ball home.

LARNE: Brown, McLoughlin, Hogan, Marsh, White, Reid, Todd, McNally, Dick, Larmour, McMennamin. Subs: Moore, McLaughlin (Larmour), Carland, Thompson (Todd), McConnaghy (McNally).

COAGH: Kempton, Allen, Thornton, Calderwood, Cowden, Park, Gardiner, Reid, McCordick, McMennemy, Dallas. Subs: McCann, McGuckin, Glasgow, Pollock.

REFEREE. S.Creanny (N'Ards)