Larne lose out to Armour-plated Ards

After a scoreless first half Larne totally lost their way in the second period as Ards cruised to victory thanks to a Darren Armour hat-trick.

With four changes from the starting line-up which faced Bangor, the visitors were hoping to complete the double over Tommy Kincaid’s side and they almost went one-up on 12 minutes. McLoughlin delivered a deep cross to the back post for McQuoid; it only needed a touch but he seemed to hesitate as the ball ran out of play.

The first of a string of contentious refereeing decisions came after 16 minutes. A Reid throw-in from the right saw Todd and McIlhagga go for the ball. The Larne player went down and the referee pointed to the spot for a very soft penalty.

Surprisingly White, who looks low on confidence at present, stepped up to fire the penalty straight into the body of McDonald. The Ards keeper produced another fine save when McNally’s precision pass found McQuoid, who saw his well-struck shot saved.

There was more controversy on 28 minutes. Fitzgerald and McKee exchanged passes to open up the Larne defence and the ball was played to McIlhagga, who saw his downward header blocked before he hammered in the rebound. The celebrations were cut short, however, when the assistant on the far side raised his flag for offside.

Brown was called into action with a superb double-save - the second, from a Spence volley, leaving the Ards player shaking his head in disbelief.

Ards looked a lot livelier after the break and should have been ahead on 55 minutes. Picking’s cross was played on by Armour to Fitzgerald, but from six yards he scooped it over the bar. With an hour gone, Armour’s header beat Brown but Reid got across to hook it off the line.

The opening goal came two minutes later, but it should never have been. McIlhagga clearly knocked the ball out of play, but the referee awarded a corner kick to the home side. The ball was played back to Spence and his cross was firmly headed in off the post by Armour.

Larne made their first change, with McLaughlin replacing McQuoid, quickly followed by the withdrawal of White and Todd, being replaced by Rafferty and McConnaghie.

Ards continued to dominate and should have doubled their tally five minutes from time when McMillan easily brushed past three challenges, only to drag his shot inches past the post.

Two minutes later came the second. Picking got to the by-line and when his cross wasn’t dealt with Armour stepped up to punish the poor defending, hammering the ball past Brown.

The marking was even worse a minute in to injury time, when Armour had time to control the ball 12 yards out before shooting high into the ne, giving Brown no chance.

ARDS: McDonald, Wilson, Nixon, Spence, Picking, McIlhagga, Wright, McKee, Pike, Fitzgerald, Armour. Subs: Stirling, Wray, McMillen, Gorman,

LARNE: Brown, Moore, McLoughlin, Marsh, Carland, Reid, McQuoid, McNally, White, Todd, Fulton. Subs: McLaughlin (McQuoid), Rafferty (White), McConnaghie (Todd), Thompson.

REFEREE: C Floyd (Belfast).