Larne Secures Narrow Victory Over Glentoran in Irish Premiership
Benji Magee scored the decisive goal with eight minutes remaining, leading Larne to a 1-0 victory over Glentoran in the Irish Premiership.
This win keeps Larne level on points with Coleraine, who are ahead on goal difference, while Glentoran now trails the title race by 11 points.
After a slow start, Larne created the first significant opportunity in the 15th minute. They broke quickly down the left flank, but Tiarnan O'Connor could only send Sean Graham's low cross wide of the near post.
Glentoran responded as Cammy Palmer found himself in a promising position on the right. However, his diagonal shot missed the target and was too far for the onrushing Pat Hoban to connect with.
Paul O'Neill had a couple of half-chances for the home side. First, he challenged Glentoran keeper Andrew Mills for a loose ball, and later, when the ball was recycled, he nearly connected with Leroy Millar's cross, only for defender Jonny Russell to intervene just in time.
A rare mistake by Aaron Donnelly almost gifted Glentoran a scoring opportunity. Pat Hoban rolled the ball across the penalty area, but Liam Burt's shot was expertly blocked by Chris Gallagher's sliding challenge.
The ball then fell to Joe Thomson at the edge of the Larne penalty area. Although his shot was well-struck, it was too close to keeper Rohan Ferguson to pose a real threat.
At the other end, substitute Magee found Matty Lusty, but his shot was effectively blocked by Michael-John Kamson-Kamara.
The deadlock was finally broken with eight minutes to go, thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Magee. There appeared to be little danger as the former Loughgall striker picked up the ball 25 yards from goal. He evaded Cammy Palmer and unleashed a low angled drive that flew past Andrew Mills from just outside the penalty area.
Glentoran had a late opportunity to equalize when Jordan Stewart collected a knockdown from Kamson-Kamara, but his low shot narrowly missed the near post.