McNamee gives Larne precious win over Tobermore

Manager Graham McConnell said the 1-0 win was a massive result: “It is a big week for the club with the cup games coming up but this was the biggest of the games. We were the better team from start to finish and it would have been hard on the players if we hadn’t got the three points.

“We would not have settled for a draw with a minute left as I always thought we could go on to win it.

“In recent games we have been slow starters but today that wasn’t the case and, if we had scored early on, I think we would have won more convincingly.

“I thought our back four were outstanding today and since Chris Keenan has come back we haven’t conceded a goal from open play and we are now in a group of teams towards the middle of the table with games in hand,” concluded McConnell.

The visitors had the first chance after six minutes when Ryan Doherty’s cross found Neil Lamont who should have hit the target but fired over.

George Young should have given Larne the lead two minutes later when he burst through the middle, and rounded the keeper only to see his shot cleared off the line.

Sencer Yilmaz and fellow strike partner, William Wharry, both went close in the second half before the winner arrived. Gary Workman’s long throw-in fell to Wharry whose shot was blocked, but it broke to McNamee who made no mistake from close in to make it a memorable first goal for the

club.

Larne: Keenan, S.Todd, Magill, McAllister, McNamee, Workman, Irvine, Yilmaz (Conlon), Young, Wharry, Simms (Crawford). Subs not used: Moore, Wharry, Haughey.