Inver Reds relish busy schedule

He’s already enjoying a frenetic little spell of games up to the end March and looking forward to a much less taxing April schedule.

You’d be forgiven for thinking he might have some complaints about the current stint of four games in 11 days, which started with Saturday’s successful trip to Lisburn Distillery and finishes with a local derby at home to Carrick Rangers on Tuesday.

“Bring it on,” says McAlinden. “Everybody moans about fixtures all the time and I have done myself in the past. But, when you are involved at the right end of the table in a situation where the title and promotion places are up for grabs, the matches just can’t come quickly or often enough.

“Isn’t it better to play games than going to training. Ask any player which he would choose and he will tell you that.”

Larne defeated Distillery 4-0 on Saturday before being edged out 3-2 by Dergivew on Tuesday night. This Saturday it’s Loughgall at home before the small matter of an east Antrim derby against Carrick on Tuesday.

“Four matches in that short space of time, especially when they could define your whole season, is tough enough. But then we will only have three matches left and the whole of April to play them; three Saturday matches with a nice break in between.

“It’s a whole clatter of games right now, but we are in with a wee shout and that helps give us the momentum to cope with it. The players are loving it, the supporters are delighted at how things are going and the management is relishing the challenge.

He added: “Let’s just see where it takes us and, if we can come out the other side of the four games in 11 days and are still in the mix for a high finish, then we can assess where we are after that.”