Kee expects tough challenge against McAlinden’s Larne

Kee’s team had five different scorers in their victory at Shorts last weekend and while he knows Saturday’s opponents will be a lot tougher, he’s hoping for a similar positive performance.

“We shared the goals around the team and that’s pleasing,” said Kee.

“Scoring eight goals at Shorts was a nice reflection on how we played, but to be honest, that match is now gone and we have to build on it at Larne this week. That’s going to be a totally different and harder game for us.”

The Invermen also kept their Intermediate Cup hopes alive as they too secured a victory at Chimney Corner, currently sit nine points behind ’Stute but Kee isn’t taking anything for granted, however he hopes their recent good record at Inver Park continues.

Since David McAlinden has taken over the hot-seat from Graham McConnell last month, Larne have won three from four matches and because of that, the ’Stute boss knows they will be full of confidence going into the game.

“It’s always difficult at Larne, but we have had good results up there the last couple of years,” he added.

“Under new management they have done well and are going to be very committed like most of the Championship teams and we are expecting that type of a match but we have to have our offensive aspects again.”

One man who Kee believes can ensure they are a threat in the final third is 31-year-old striker Stephen Parkhouse.

“We want to keep out momentum going and at the end of the day I think our performance against Lisburn Distillery wasn’t that bad, in fact I think it was quite good, but we didn’t score and the players were told that there efforts were good in that game but they know that they have to be more clinical,” stated Kee.

“But I think the fact that Parkie started at Shorts helped us.

“He definitely had a drive and a determination about him before the match, he was very focused and he epitomised our attitude last Saturday and we’ll need that same focus and determination this week at Larne.

“We also need the same intensity in our offensive third this weekend and although Shorts were an amateur team, it was a good workout for us. But, as I have said, there’s no point doing that against Shorts and then back to square one this weekend, we have to carry it on.”