CHAMPIONSHIP 1: Larne 0 Loughgall 3

It was a game the home side could have won as they dominated the first-half, but they just couldn’t convert their chances.

Manager Davy McAlinden was disappointed with the outcome but was more annoyed with the performance of the officials. “I haven’t complained about officials all season but ... a couple of the tackles could have been leg-breakers.

“We were excellent in the first half, the best team by a country mile but then we conceded a very sloppy goal. In the second half we conceded two very poor goals and it was game over.

“Overall, I can’t be too critical after the season they have given me but today I have to be honest and say we were not good enough.

“We will pick ourselves up again for the derby game on Tuesday night and hopefully some of our injured players will be fit again.”

Within the first minute, Paul Maguire set up Darren Stuart who shot straight at the keeper.

Tommy Robinson then wasted the Reds’ best chance of the game. He was sent clear by James McCabe, but, having rounded the keeper, he fired into the side-netting.

McCabe then got to the line and sent in a low cross but there were no takers.

The visitors then took the lead on 34 minutes. The ball broke to Aaron Patterson and his clinical finish gave John Connolly no chance.

The lead was doubled after 57 minutes courtesy of a soft goal. Graham Taylor delivered a corner from the left to find Warner Mullan and his header sneaked inside the post.

Four minutes later Patterson added a third, picking up Mullan’s cross field pass to beat Connolly.

LARNE: Connolly, Bradley, Smith, McClean, Reynolds, McGoran (B.Heggarty 84), Stuart, Maguire, McCabe , G.Gillan. Robinson (Murray 57). Subs not used: E.Gillan, C.Heggarty, Stitt