Larne get back on track with win over Victorians

Larne went into this one as slight favourites, but it was the hosts who started the brighter of the two. They moved the ball around well but just lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

However, against the run of play, the visitors took the lead. Gillian Russell played a superb, defence-splitting pass to Gillian Rennix who outpaced the home defence and drew out the goalkeeper out, before slipping the ball sideways to her strike partner Zoe Purdy who controlled it and rolled it into the unguarded net.

Ten minutes later Victorians equalised from a short corner, slamming the ball home at the second attempt.

This only seemed to spur the Larne girls on as they started to dominate all over the pitch, forcing Victorians to defend deep in their own half.

Larne retook the lead after some superb play down the right involving Rennix who fed the ball to Laura Withers who, in turn, passed to the back post for Diane Henry to fire home.

Larne didn’t rest on their laurels and kept up the pressure from the restart, doubling their lead in the process with the goal of the game. They moved the ball with pace and precision down the right, carving through the Victorians’ defence and eventually played it to the unmarked Withers to slide home.

With 15 minutes to play, Victorians pulled a goal back with their striker scoring from the rebound after Trish Neill had saved the initial shot.

The remainder of the game was played out largely in midfield with neither team creating any worthwhile chances.

It was a convincing performance and shows Larne have every intention of keeping themselves in touching distance of second place and the possibility of promotion to the top-flight.

Team: T. Neill, L. Craig, R. Beggs, Rebecca Dalton, M. Finlay, G. Rennix, G. Russell, Ruth Dalton (c), C. Holmes, I. Carmichael, Z. Purdy, L. Withers, L. Snoddy, D. Henry.

n Fixtures: 1st XI v Portadown (2:30 pm); Newcastlev Larne II (Intermediate Cup); Larne III v Owls II.