LARNE FC: McAlinden bemoans errors in defeat to Institute

The visitors fully deserved the points against the home side who never got going.

“We never started and that performance probably summed up our season with the inconsistencies and the individual errors that we made. When that happens it becomes massively difficult to win football matches,” was the honest assessment from manager Davy McAlinden.

“We still fancied ourselves at the break even though we were not using the ball the way we can. Then we committed the errors that totally killed the game off. It is massively frustrating, consistency is part of being a good player and we struggled to do that.”

The Reds struggled to get a foothold in the game but were almost gifted a goal on six minutes. A long clearance from Billy Brennan was headed back to his goalkeeper by Ciaron Harkin but the ball sailed over Martin Gallagher only to run inches wide.

Alex Pomeroy was causing problems for the Larne defence and he set up a chance for Gareth Brown who hooked his shot over the bar.

Larne were feeding off scraps in the game and they went behind on 36 minutes. Pomeroy was the provider from Aaron Harkin who swept his shot past Brennan into the net.

The Institute man then took full advantage of shocking defending to double the lead on 65 minutes.

Within a minute the result was put beyond doubt. Again there were questions marks over the defending as Jamie McIntyre cut inside to place the ball low into the corner.

Eoin Gillan did grab a consolation late on but it was too little too late.

LARNE: Brennan, Bradley, McGonnell, McGrandless (Robinson 86), Rodgers, Nixon, Gillan, Irvine (Keke 55), McIlveen (Keke 51), Stuart (McCabe 74), Maguire (McCabe 81). Subs not used: Calvert, McManus.

INSTITUTE: Gallagher, O’Donnell, McDermott, Scoltock, Harkin, McIntyre, A. Harkin, Brown, Dunn, Grace, Pomeroy. Subs: Hume, McCrudden, Mills, Lynch

Referee: G. McIlwrath