VIDEO SLIDESHOW: Larne bounce back to claim win over Whites

Manager Davy McAlinden rang the changes with six new faces in the starting line-up from the Intermediate Cup defeat to Bangor.

Among those was former Whites player Niall McAllister. “I wasn’t expecting to start so I was happy to be back in midfield,” he told the Times. “I had a licence to get forward which I enjoyed. Our two substitutions made a big difference and we deserved the win.

“We were very disappointed to concede the goal just before half-time but all the players believed we were good enough to go on and win it - especially playing with the strong wind at our backs.”

After a quiet start to the game Distillery tested Chris Keenan in the Larne goal; the keeper doing well to push Stuart Thompson’s shot for a corner after 20 minutes.

Johnny McMurray, making his debut for the Reds, tried to chip Ryan McBride in the home goal but Neil Alderdice got back to cover.

With a minute of the half remaining, Distillery took the lead. A free-kick from the right was flicked on by Alderdice into the net leaving Chris Keenan with no chance.

Seven minutes after the break Chris Kingsberry was lucky to escape without a card after he raised his arm to push Robbie Lee Crawford to the ground beside the near side assistant.

Larne then had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Paul Maguire’s cross struck the hand of Alderdice. After initially pointing to the spot the referee then consulted his assistant and decided the infringement had been outside the box.

Darren McNamee then scored to level the scores on 67 minutes. He nipped in at the back post to apply the finish to a King corner from the left in a move straight off the training ground.

Larne continued to dominate and almost grabbed the lead 12 minutes from time. A long clearance from Keenan was knocked on by McMurray. It fell to King who turned inside Mark Lyons before firing inches wide of the upright.

Four minutes later King was again involved as Larne got the winner. Super-sub King fired in a well struck free-kick which was too hot to handle for McBride, allowing the alert Paul Maguire to apply the finish.

Manager McAlinden spent the last five minutes of the game behind the dugout after he was orded away from the technical area by the referee and he watched as McMurray forced a fine save from McBride to keep out his stinging shot.

Larne: Keenan, Scott, Crawford, Rodgers, McNamee, N.McAllister, Gillan (White 60), Mitchell, Maguire, McMurray, Duffin (King 60). Subs not used: Wharry, J.McAllister, Picking

Distillery: McBride, Thompson, Alderdice, Nixon, O’Connor, Wilson, McConnell, Doyle, Pike, McConville. Subs: Wright, Lyons, Upton, Withers, Morton.

Referee. L. Tavinder (Dungannon)