Andy Ryan bagged a hat-trick as Larne defeated Lincoln Red Imps at Inver Park, and qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Conference League.

Trailing by a goal from last week's first leg, Larne's job became even tougher on 20 minutes when the visitors went ahead on the night when Bernardo Lopes was given the space in the area to connect with Nano's cross and volley home with his left-foot.

However Tiernan Lynch's side were thrown a lifeline after half-an-hour when, after consulting with VAR, the referee awarded a spot-kick following a handball by Joe with Andy Ryan stepping up to confidently send the keeper the wrong way.

Then, three minutes from the break, Larne went ahead - and levelled the tie on aggregate - following a second Ryan penalty, this time awarded after Chris Gallagher had been brought down in the box.

The game took a further twist just before the hour when Larne were reduced to ten men following Gallagher's dismissal for a second bookable offence, a challenge on Ibrahim Ayew.

But, with seven minutes remaining, Larne moved further in front on the night. Substitute Benji Magee broke clear to lay the ball off for Ryan, and the Scottish striker kept his composure to control the ball and finish with aplomb to put the home side to within touching distance of a famous victory and the group stages.

That proved to be enough to see the Inver Reds through despite a nervy finish, and an almost a stoppage time equaliser from Lopes that saw the ball just drop the wrong side of the upright.

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Ives, Thomson, Graham, Bolger, Cosgrove, Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan, Lusty subs Graham, McKendry, Randall, O'Neill, Magee, McEneff, Glynn, Devlin

Lincoln Red Imps: Santana, Ayew, Lopes, Gomez, De Barr, Munoz, Garcia, Britto, Nano, Torilla, Joe subs Lopez, Smith, Pozo, Casciaro, Yahaya, Valarino, Pedro Martin, Clinton, Bent, Sciortino, Burnet, Villacanas