Spot-on Fulton fires Old Boys through

Larne Tech OB 2

(after extra time)

LARNE Tech Old Boys now look forward to a tasty home tie against Dundela, after taking the scalp of Premier Division side Dunmurry Rec in this Steel and Sons tie at Ashley Park.

Despite playing into a biting wind, the Tech posed the early threat with Bertie Fulton and Damien McLaughlin both bringing out the best in the Rec custodian. Geordie Lynn and Paul McCann also went close.

At the other end, Dunmurry’s only real moment of note was when Tech player-manager Gary Smyth sprang to the rescue in a one-on-one.

There were less clear-cut offerings in the second session, which was more of a midfield battle, although it was still the Antivilleians who looked the more likely, with half-chances falling to Fulton, McLaughlin and McCann.

And so into extra time, when Lynn ushered the ball through to Fulton, who was unceremoniously sent crashing to the ground by a Rec defender who was fortunate only to see yellow and not red.

Fulton dusted himself down to clinically convert the penalty re-opening his Tech account, following his few seasons with Larne.

While Smyth had one reasonable save to make, one goal looked to be enough, although former manager Ciaran Kelly made sure in the second session, mobile enough to pounce onto the loose ball after Fulton’s initial header had bounced off the keeper.

Larne Tech OB; Smyth – Hyslop, Henry, Crawford, Magee – McCann, Brown (Dingwell), Lynn, McNeill (Lowry) – McLaughlin (Kelly), Fulton.