LARNE WIN EAST ANTRIM DERBY
Larne hit three goals without reply past Carrick Rangers to come out on top in the East Antrim derby at Inver Park.
Cathair Friel had an early chance for Carrick when, after five minutes, his half volley from just outside the area was well held by Conor Devlin.
Larne moved in front on 14 minutes through Lee Lynch with a deflected strike from inside the area past Aaron Hogg after Graham Kelly had sent the ball over from the left.
Albert Watson had the ball in the net a few minutes after that after the loose ball from an Andy Mitchell free-kick fell at his feet only for the effort to be ruled out offside.
Carrick had chances to equalise through Caolan Loughran with a header into the side netting and another Friel effort just wide of the target.
But Larne doubled their advantage on 35 minutes. David McDaid was brought down by Reece Neale prompting referee Raymond Crangle to point to the spot.
Mitchell's initial penalty was saved by Hogg but a retake was ordered after an infringement into the area with Mitchell making no mistake the second time around.
Then, a couple of minutes after that, it was 3-0 after Lynch doubled his tally for the afternoon with a composed finish taking the ball past Hogg and into the unguarded net.
McDaid came close to adding a fourth just before the hour but was denied by a point blank save from Hogg, with other efforts from Martin Donnelly and Josh Robinson sending shots over.
The chances followed with McDaid turning an effort against an upright but Carrick had an opportunity themselves when Jordan Jenkins dispossessed Watson only for Devlin to produce a great save.
Lynch thought he had bagged his hat-trick with seven minutes remaining. Conor McKendry was fouled in the box and from the penalty that followed Lynch knocked the ball past Hogg, but referee Crangle ruled the goal out for a double hit after spotting that Lynch had slipped and struck the ball twice before it reached the net.
Larne: Devlin, Kelly, Watson, Robinson, Herron, McDaid, Donnelly, Lynch, A. Mitchell, Wade Slater, Cosgrove subs C. Mitchell (not used), Randall (replaced Wade Slater 65), Hale (not used), McKendry (replaced Herron 79), Mottley-Henry (not used), Jarvis (replaced Kelly 57), Lusty (not used)
Carrick Rangers: Hogg, Neale, Rodgers, Loughran, Chapman, Kelly, Gordon, Cherry, Anderson, Jenkins, Cathair Friel subs Connor Friel (not used), Forsythe (replaced Anderson 65), Smith (not used), Glendinning (replaced Kelly 21), Gibson (not used), McMullan (replaced Loughran 46), Storey (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
