Image source, PACEMAKERImage caption, Paul O'Neill celebrates scoring the opener for Larne against Glenavon
- Published13 minutes ago
Larne stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points thanks to a 3-0 victory over Glenavon on Friday night.
All the goals came in the second half with Paul O'Neill heading in the opener before Leroy Millar's close-range finish.
Andy Ryan tapped in with seconds remaining to seal the win at Mourneview Park.
Linfield's faint title hopes were dealt a blow as they went down 2-0 against Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.
Blues defender Darragh Leahy was red-carded for a last-man foul on 36 minutes before Matthew Olosunde broke the deadlock just before the break.
Luke McCullough fired home after 72 minutes to double the lead as Linfield fell to a defeat which leaves them 12 points behind Larne with just five games left.
Larne see off Glenavon challenge
Second half goals from O'Neill, Millar and Ryan restored Larne's five-point lead at the top after a hard-fought win at Glenavon.
The visitors were first to threaten on six minutes as O'Neill got on the end of Ryan's cutback, but his flicked effort over Jacob Carney was hacked off the line by the alert Paddy Burns.
The Glenavon keeper was called into action again on 26 minutes, getting down well to palm away another effort from O'Neill.
The Larne frontman found himself in on goal again a minute later - he tried to play in Millar but overhit his pass allowing Barney McKeown to make the covering tackle.
Rohan Ferguson stood up well to keep Glenavon at bay at the start of the second half as he palmed away Paul McGovern's shot from a tight angle.
With the game on a knife-edge Larne grabbed the all-important breakthrough as O'Neill got in front of his marker to head home from Millar's cross.
Larne doubled their advantage on 69 minutes as Ryan teed up Millar to turn and finish emphatically past Carney.
There was still time for a third goal as Millar repaid the favour for Ryan netted his 11th of the season in stoppage time.
Ten-man Linfield lose out at Carrick
In front of an estimated 200 Carrick Rangers investors, who were making themselves heard throughout, it was an open start to the game with the first effort coming from Joshua Archer of Linfield on nine minutes.
The midfielder let fly from 30 yards but the ball zipped just wide of the left-hand upright.
Eleven minutes later the Belfast side went close from a Kyle McClean corner that flashed off the head of Matthew Fitzpatrick and across the face of the Carrick goal. Archer had a go from the clearance but he couldn't keep his drive down from outside the box.
Carrick's first chance came on 26 minutes when a long ball over the top sent Paul Heatley clear. The striker bore down on keeper Chris Johns but he couldn't beat the keeper with his effort and the ball was cleared.
Then on 36 minutes a huge moment in the game. Leahy saw red for pulling back Joseph Moore, who had run clean through on goal. Ten minutes later and the numerical advantage would pay dividends for the hosts.
A free-kick into the area found McCullough, who headed to Joe Crowe at the back post. His effort was brilliantly saved by Johns, but the keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Matthew Olosunde and he smashed home from two yards just before the half-time whistle.
Five minutes after the break and it could have been two. The ball was crossed into the heart of the Linfield box from the right and there was Heatley with a wonderful low volley from 12 yards that looked destined for the right-hand corner of goal, but somehow Johns, at full stretch, saved to his left at full reach to knock the ball away for a corner.
Chris McKee went close for the Blues soon after but Carrick took control when Luke McCullough scored on 72 minutes. Mikey Place did superbly down the right before drilling a low cross into the danger area. After a scramble it was the captain who rifled home from 10 yards beyond the reach of Johns.
