LARNE LEAPFROG REDS INTO SECOND

Larne withstood an attempted late Cliftonville revival to secure the points at Inver Park.

Cliftonville started the more promising of the two sides, threatening early on when Ben Wilson got on the end of a Rory Hale pass only for Rohan Ferguson to make a superb save to deny his subsequent effort.

Then, not long after that, Wilson had another go - this time from 25 yards - but his low shot went wide of the left post.

However, it fell to hosts Larne to open the scoring after nine minutes courtesy of a Paul O'Neill close range header from Joe Thomson's right sided cross.

Larne threatened on numerous occasions after that to double their advantage, coming closest when Thomson to lay the ball off for Mark Randall but his 25-yard effort took a deflection and crashed back off the woodwork.

Cliftonville almost levelled when a slip by Cian Bolger allowed Wilson to win possession and pass to Rory Hale but he couldn't connect to make the most of the opportunity.

Tiernan Lynch's side punished the Reds for that miss by adding their second of the evening on 36 minutes when Randall found Tomas Cosgrove who, in turn, teed the ball up for Thomson to take a touch and then send a powerful finish past David Odumosu.

Although a quieter start to the second half, Cliftonville did try to work themselves back into the game albeit without causing the Larne rearguard any meaningful problems.

Wilson did threaten midway through the half with a superb effort from range that looked destined to beat Ferguson only for Larne keeper to tip the ball over the top.

And the Reds came even closer when a Luke Turner cross was attempted to be cleared by defender Levi Ives but he inadvertently directed it onto the right post with the visitors unable to make the most of the rebound.

Cliftonville tested Ferguson again through a Ronan Hale free-kick ... but, two minutes into stoppage time, they eventually found a way through when a mistake by Ferguson allowed Ronan in to calmly slot the ball into an unguarded net.

But there was still time for Larne to almost restore their two-goal cushion after Leroy Millar ran onto the ball and through the Reds defence before firing against the post.

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Donnelly, Thomson, Randall, O'Neill, Ives, Bolger, Millar, Cosgrove, Orozco subs Dowling, Farquhar, Allan, Glynn, Graham, Smith, Ryan

Cliftonville: Odumosu, Addis, Gallagher, Rory Hale, Lowe, Doherty, Ashford, Casey, Turner, Kearney, Wilson subs Gartside, Pepper, Kenny, Curran, Mallon, Gormley, Ronan Hale