Black on Maguire on target in Cup win

Second-half goals from Ross Black and Paul Maguire helped ease Larne into the fourth round of the Intermediate Cup as they beat Chimney Corner 2-1 in horrendous conditions at Allen Park.

Manager Davy McAlinden was happy with the overall performance. “At times we showed grit and determination although it was never going to going to be pretty. We came to do a job and we achieved that although their goal took a bit of the shine off the win,” he said.

Asked if it was all about the result, he added: “I always strived to put on a performance that people will enjoy watching. I think we played well in spells as well and with better finishing it would have been more comfortable.”

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Larne struggled to take control in a scrappy first-half with Black firing over the bar and Mark Picking wasting a golden opportunity just before the break from three yards out.

With the wind at their backs the visitors were in the ascendancy in the second-half. Maguire rose to meet a Black cross on 48 minutes but failed to hit the target.

Having seen a close-range header blocked on the line, Black finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark.

He delivered an in-swinging corner from the right which deceived everyone in the box as it flew just inside the back post.

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Five minutes later Josh McAllister set up a chance for Robbie White who will be disappointed that he didn’t hit the target.

Larne doubled their lead 20 minutes from time when Stuart Scott’s cross fell perfectly for Maguire and his sensational acrobatic effort flew past the keeper into the net.

The home side should have pulled one back 14 minutes from time when Sean McCashin rose unchallenged to meet a David McCrean cross only to head wide.

But the big defender did get on the score sheet with a very late consolation, firing low into the corner of the net.

Larne: McRandall, Scott, Black, Wharry, McNamee, N.McAllister, Irvine, Picking, Maguire, White, Gargan (J. McAllister 50).

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