McAlinden pleased with players’ reaction

“The supporters and some others were saying we’d never be able to beat The Welders, pointing to the fact that it’s been something like eight or 10 years since we got a win over them,” explained Larne boss, McAlinden. “But all this talk about hoodoos is nonsense. I don’t subscribe to any of that rubbish.”

“It’s the same as people saying that things even themselves out over the season.

“For example, if your team conceded a penalty in your first game of the season and there’s not another penalty awarded in any games, does that mean you are bound to get a penalty in the last game of the season? Strange things happen over long periods, but it’s nothing to do with a hoodoo or jinx.

“It was one of those days when everybody expected the game to be off and the conditions were, indeed, pretty awful. But we coped with them well on a pitch that was okay considering the amount of rain that had fallen.

“We had asked the fellas to give us the required positive reaction following the last defeat, the hammering by Institute, and they did that. It was a good performance on a poor day, and we deserved to be in the next round.

“We have been drawn away again, this time to Bangor, and they don’t come much more difficult than a trip to Clandeboye Park right now.”