First league win still eludes battling Larne

After a scoreless first half, the home side netted two in a row - both of which were contested by the visitors. Gillian Russell pulled one back for Larne.

Larne began the game brightly, putting the Knock defence under pressure, but they just couldn’t find that elusive breakthrough goal.

The home side produced some good play of their own on the counter-attack but couldn’t find a way past Larne’s resolute defence.

The early stages of the second half were evenly contested with both sides playing well.

But it was Knock who finally broke the deadlock as they slotted home. Larne’s appeal that the goalscorer had controlled the ball with her foot before finding the net fell on deaf ears.

The visitors were to endure more misfortune as Knock’s second appeared to have been disallowed only to be overturned after appeals from the home side.

Larne refused to let the scoreline get to them and they managed to pull a goal back when Teah Maguire’s strike from a penalty corner was parried and Russell reacted first to smash home the rebound.

Larne continued to pile on the pressure but time ran out before they could find an equaliser.

Seconds sink ‘Garvey

Elsewhere the Seconds made it four victories on the spin as they ran out 3-0 winners at Lisnagarvey Ladies IV.

Larne were in front inside two minutes through Beth McVeigh before a second-half double from Dee Wallace sealed the deal.

Thirds see off Raphoe

Larne’s Thirds bagged a 2-1 win over Raphoe Ladies on Sunday.

Louisa Garrett stole in at the back post for the opener, only for Raphoe to draw level.

But Larne responded and took the lead again thanks to a well-worked penalty corner which was converted by Jackie Spence.

Fixtures

1st XI: Ballymena (a) Friday; Thirds Banbridge (h).