Larne 0-1 Bangor 03 November 1998

Bangor maintained their lead at the top of the First Division thanks to a second half goal from Michael Crowe. Larne started brightly and Davy Patton forced an early save from Andrew Fox after he was sent clear by Stephen McDowell. Bangor dangerman Ray McCoy split the Larne defence on the half-hour to cross for Michael Surgeon whose shot was blocked by Marcus Hill, the ball broke to Michael McKeown who was also denied by keeper Matthews. Larne almost paid dearly for slackness in defence on the stroke of half-time allowing McCoy to pick up a loose ball on the edge of the box. He sent in a ferocious drive which Matthews was forced to parry before Hill cleared the danger. One minute after the re-start Paul Cullen sent in a speculative shot from 25 yards which crashed off the crossbar. Bangor’s winner came on the hour. McCoy’s corner picked out Crowe, whose header from six yards appeared to be covered by Matthews but he allowed the ball to drop behind him.

Team: Matthews, M.Hill, Loughlin, J.Hill, McKinstry, McParland, Taylor, Lowry, Patton, Telford, McDowell subs Anderson, Magill

Referee: John McClenaghan (Waringstown)

 League table

7th November, 1998 BALLYCLARE COMRADES 2-0 LARNE

Comrades ended a seven game losing streak with a morale-boosting victory. But it wasn’t until Larne were reduced to 10 men early in the second half that the home side secured their first win since mid-September. Defender Marcus Hill was red-carded for what referee Jim Peden described as “serious foul play” after a foul on Mark Picking three minutes after the break. Comrades took full advantage just before the hour, Barry Rooney scoring with a left-foot shot. Lee Galbraith made the points secure nine minutes later with a crisp finish after Picking’s initial shot was parried by keeper Philip Matthews.

Team: Matthews, M.Hill, McDowell, J.Hill, McKinstry, McParland, Taylor, Anderson, Patton, Telford, Lowry subs: McCormick, Magill, Loughlin

Referee: Jim Peden (Richhill)

Tuesday, 14th November, 1998 ARDS 2-0 LARNE

A double strike from Colin Beggs in the first 12 minutes keeps Ards at the top of the pile in Division One. Ards opened the scoring after just three minutes when Beattie sprinted down the right and crossed to the back post for Beggs to place a free header wide of Matthews into the corner. It was a repeat show eight minutes later when Beattie’s cross again picked out the unmarked Beggs, but this time he failed to get his header on target. The one-way traffic towards the Larne continued and it was no surprise when the visitors added the second one minute later. McBride weaved his way past four defenders before unleashing a great shot which Matthews could only parry into the path of Beggs who headed in his second the game. Five minutes before the break a free from Prizeman fell to Dykes, he failed to control the ball then ran to Kerr, but his shot was just the wrong side of the upright. Six minutes after the restart a superb cross-field pass from Ferguson set up Anderson but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Keenan. Ards will wonder how they did not add a third after 55 minutes. Kerr’s corner fell to McBride, his shot was pushed out by Matthews to Dykes. He saw his well-struck shot from six yards blocked by the keeper and McBride’s effort was cleared off the line by Hill. Fourteen minutes later a neat build-up between Dykes and Kerr saw the ball fall to Erskine on the edge of the box. He sent in a low drive which took a slight deflection but Matthews recovered to save low to his right. With nine minutes remaining the home side were reduced to ten men when Loughlin was red-carded.

Team: Matthews, M.Hill, Lowry, J.Hill, McKinstry, McParland, Ferguson, Taylor, Loughlin, Anderson, McDowell subs McCormick, Crawford, Butcher

Referee: John Ferry (Londonderry)

21st November, 1998 LARNE 1-0 DUNGANNON SWIFTS

An injury time strike from Telford pinched three points for Larne. Five minutes into the game a neat back heel set up a chance for Bates, his shot beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by Jody Hill. Bates was again well placed after 18 minutes, this time picking up a Gough cross but his weak side-foot effort did not trouble Matthews and the first half remained scoreless. Eight minutes into the second half a cross from Ferguson was dropped by Swifts keeper Cushley. Marcus Hill was first to react but fired his effort against the upright. Dungannon’s leading scorer Alan Gough went close on the hour. Picking up a Bates cross, he sent his 20-yard effort just outside the left-hand post. Eight minutes later he returned the favour with a crossfield ball which found Bates on the edge of the box but he scooped his effort just over the bar. With 10 minutes remaining Larne missed the best chance of the game. Lowry delivered a low cross from the left which was missed completely by Cushley but the inrushing Hill, facing an open goal, sent his shot wide from six yards. Larne snatched the points two minutes into injury time when a crossfield ball from Lowry caused panic in the visitors’ defence. The Swifts failed to clear, allowing substitute Telford to knock the ball in from four yards.

Team: Matthews, Ferguson, Lowry, J.Hill, McKinstry, M.Hill, Taylor, McDowell, Patton, Craig, McCormick subs McParland, Anderson, Telford

Referee: Frank Harte (Newry)

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