ABBEY VILLA 4



FIVE defeats now out of five for Larne Tech Old Boys, although once more there were some encouraging signs in this tussle with Abbey Villa at Craigyhill.

The Millisle side opened the scoring, somewhat against the run of play, after 20 minutes. The Tech’s troubles doubled, too, when Kieran Kane, not spotting the player running in on his blindside, conceded a soft penalty, which Villa duly accepted.

The final 15 minutes of the opening session, nevertheless, belonged to the Larne boys and it was no surprise when Kieran Kane put them back within touching distance with a ripping left foot drive into the bottom corner of the net.

The Tech, too, could have gone off level had the Abbey keeper not pulled off a fine save to foil David Steele.

Half time came at just the wrong time for the youthful Old Boys, and they failed to start again where they had finished, being caught cold as Villa restored their two goal cushion.

Yet there might have been a way back for the Tech had a Steele effort not shuddered back off the upright.

However, pressing forward, the Larne boys were caught on the break, as Villa copper fastened a victory which wasn’t quite as clear cut as that scoreline would make you believe.

Best for Tech - David Steele.

Larne Tech OB; Kane – Davis (Graham), Yilmaz, Heggarty, McNeill – Z McAllister, K Kane, Magill (Dickinson), R Kane (McAllister sen) – D Steele, Kernohan.

Players In - Ricky Kane, G, Inver Athletic; Eamon Harkin, M, Wellington Rec.

Players Out -

Tony Liken, S, Glenarm; Gary Critchley, D/M, Newington Rangers; Graham Henry, D, Newington Rangers.