’Stute cruise to victory

Defender Dean Jarvis’ sending off early in the second half was the only down side to what otherwise was a comfortable evening.

The home side took the lead in some what fortunate circumstances when Sean Roddy’s drive from the edge of the box, took a wicked deflection off Andrew Simms, before creeping past the despairing dive of Larne keeper Chris Keenan.

’Stute felt they should have had a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Ricky Lee Dougherty broke clear of the offside trap, but despite falling inside the box under the challenge of the out-rushing Keenan, it looked as though the keeper did manage to get a touch on the ball and referee Wesley Campbell waved play-on.

The Drumahoe side doubled their advantage on 53 minutes when Dougherty fired home from close range, after Michael McCrudden’s initial shot was charged down by Keenan.

Soon after Keenan came to his side’s rescue again this time diving low to keep out McCrudden’s low strike.

Moments later ’Stute were reduced to ten men when defender Dean Jarvis lashed out off the ball at substitute Brian McClean.

The ten men brought on experienced duo Stephen Parkhouse and Joe Gray replacing Darren McFadden and Dougherty in an attempt to shore things up.

Parkhouse was in the thick of the action straight away when his clever touch found an in-rushing McCrudden, but his stinging 25 yard effort was well held by Keenan.

A super free-kick by Roddy on 84 minutes nearly resulted in the Drumahoe men adding a third, but his curling effort from 25 yards was kept out by a full stretched Keenan.

A slick counter attack by the home side ended with McCrudden’s inch pass found Parkhouse, but the striker’s side footed effort, which was destined for the top corner was superbly tipped onto the post by on Keenan.

Institute: Gallagher, Roddy, McLaughlin, Jarvis, Taylor; McKeever, McCauley, Walsh; McCrudden, McFadden, Dougherty. Subs: Parkhouse for McFadden (57); Gray for Dougherty (60); Crown for McCauley (78); Carlyle & McCready (not used).

Larne: Keenan, Todd, Lemon, Todd, Wharry, Workman, Irvine, Devine, Maguire, Berry, Simms. Subs: McClean for Berry (36); Carland for Wharry (82).

Referee: Mr Wesley Campbell (Augher).

Cautioned: McFadden (36); McCauley (45); McClean (56); Carland (84); Walsh (86); Workman (88).

Sent-off: Jarvis (56).