Match Reports:-
Gold Cup 98/99

Larne 0-1 Portadown: 08 September 1998

A Paul Millar strike eight minutes from time gave Portadown the points against a dogged Larne side at Inver Park. The visitors started brightly and after three minutes a Millar pass fell to Peter Hutton, but he blasted just over the bar. Larne settled and almost took the lead after 21 minutes. A loose ball on the edge of the box fell to Darren Crawford, but his hooked effort went just past the upright. Eight minutes later a slip by Peter Lowry in the home defence presented Vinny Arkins with a great chance. However, he failed to find the target from 10 yards. Three minutes later, Robert Casey's precision pass sent Richard Clarke away on the left, but his cross was cut out by Jody Hill with Arkins waiting to pounce. Larne bounced back yet again and a sweeping cross from Lowry on the left was touched on by Davy Patton to McCourt whose shot was narrowly wide. Eight minutes after the break a quick one-two between Millar and Arkins saw the Dubliner send in a rasping drive which Philip Matthews did well to block. Darren Fulton set up another chance for Arkins on the hour. The big striker again showed great close control, but he again found Matthews in great form, this time pushing his shot for a corner. Portadown continued to press forward and the winner eventually arrived after 82 minutes. Arkins sprinted down the left and found a yard of space to drive in a low cross which Millar turned into the left hand corner from four yards giving Matthews no chance.

Team: Matthews, Crawford, Craig, J.Hill, McKinstry, M.Hill, Taylor, Lowry, McCourt, Patton, Ferguson subs McCormick, Loughlin

Other Results - Gold Cup

Glentoran 4 -1 Larne - 22 September 1998

BRAVE Larne gave Premier League leaders Glentoran a greater fright than the 4-1 scoreline suggested at the Oval last night. Roy Coyle's men only came to life in this Nationwide Gold Cup encounter after Larne missed an 83rd minute penalty which would have levelled scores at 2- 2.

Glens keeper Neil Armstrong saved Davy Patton's poor spot kick and the home side scored twice in the final three minutes to kill off Larne's courageous challenge. Glentoran enjoyed plenty of possession during the game but poor finishing frustrated the home fans. When "Nationwide Man of the Match" Rory Hamill volleyed in John Kennedy's impressive left wing cross in the fourth minute it seemed the only relevant question concerned Glentoran's margin of victory, but the anticipated avalanche of goals failed to arrive until late in the game. Battling Larne refused to roll over and equalised in the 32nd minute when former Glenavon hitman Davy Patton drilled a low powerful shot from the edge of the box past Armstrong. The Premiership pace-setters continued to miss a catalogue of chances after the interval with Justin McBride the main culprit, squandering a hat-trick of opportunities. The Inver Park side held on until the 70th minute when James Quigley put the Glens in front with his first touch after replacing Paul Leeman in midfield. The new addition to the home side was in the right place at the right time when John Kennedy's low drive was parried by Philip Matthews.

A remarkable draw was within the visitors sights with only seven minutes remaining when Chris Walker chopped down Peter Lowry inside the box but Patton's poor effort let the Glens off the hook. Mind you, goalkeeper Armstrong deserves credit as well. Then came the late double helping for the home side. Davy Rainey scored a spectacular overhead kick from a Justin McBride corner in the 87th minute and Philip Mitchell made it 4-1 when he touched in Quigley's low drive in the final minute. It was a patchy performance from the Irish League's only unbeaten side this season, but it was enough to make them firm favourites to qualify from their Gold Cup Group.

LATE BLAST PUNISHES BRAVE LARNE

Glentoran 4-1 Larne

Two goals in the last three minutes helped unbeaten Premier leaders Glentoran complete a comfortable victory at the Oval. First Division Larne battled bravely and wasted a penalty opportunity with the score 2-1 - but they were always destined to finish second best. A cricket score appeared on the cards when Glentoran went in front after only four minutes. It involved their most effective players - John Kennedy crossing for Rory Hamill to volley in from a narrow angle. On 32 minutes the crowd were stunned by a Larne equaliser, Davy Patton hitting home from the edge of the area after a clever interchange with the impressive Peter Lowry. Larne should have taken a shock lead nine minutes after the interval, Lowry finding Stuart Ferguson, but he failed to hit the target with a free header. That embarrassed Glentoran into action and they mounted a series of attacks, with Justin McBride missing a hat-trick of chances. The Glens eventually went in front on 70 minutes, substitute James Quigley tapping in with his first touch, seconds after replacing Paul Leeman. Larne had an opportunity to level it seven minutes from time, but Patton blew his chance of a second goal when his penalty was stopped by stand-in keeper Neil Armstrong. Then that late surge from the home side - David Rainey blasting in a spectactular overhead free kick three minutes from time and Philip Mitchell helping a Quigley shot over the line right on the final whistle.

Team: Matthews, Craig, Crawford, J.Hill, McKinstry, Taylor, M.Hill, Ferguson, Patton, Anderson, Lowry subs Loughlin, McCormick, McCourt

Referee: Herbie Barr

Other Results - Gold Cup

GROUP C TABLE
P W D L F A PTS

1 Glentoran 2 2 0 0 7 1 6
2 Portadown 2 2 0 0 4 0 6
3 Ards 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
4 Ballyclare Comrades 2 1 0 1 2 4 3
5 Larne 2 0 0 2 1 5 0
6 Omagh Town 2 0 0 2 1 5 0

Tue Oct 13 - Larne 2-0 Ballyclare Comrades (H)

Larne scored their second win of the season over the Comrades thanks to two first half goals. The first a Keith Dallas own goal which was followed by a great strike from Davy Patton. The home side opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Terry Taylor played the ball wide to Stephen McDowell on the left. He sent in a low-driven cross which was turned into his own net by Dallas. Mark Picking, who looked lively throughout for the visitors, might have equalised three minutes later but he drove his shot wide after a great solo run which saw him leave three defenders in his wake. Just before the break, Patton turned quickly to fire a right foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

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

Referee: M.Courtney (Belfast)

Tue Oct 27 - Omagh Town (H)

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)

Tue Nov 10 Larne 1-1-Ards (A)

Ten-man Larne held out for a morale-boosting draw against First Division leaders Ards at Castlereagh Park. Larne may have had no interest left in the Gold Cup competition but they can take great credit from a point won having played in the second half a man short. Stephen Withers gave Larne a surprise 42nd minute lead, scoring from 20 yards. The Larne joy turned to despair almost on the half-time whistle as midfielder Colin Telford was red-carded for a second bookable offence. It was backs to the wall for fighting Larne in the new half especially after Philip Dykes had headed in a 53rd minute equaliser for Tommy Cassidy’s side.

Team: Mills, McDowell, Withers, Hill, McKinstry, McParland, McCormick, Lowry, Patton, Telford, Anderson subs Crawford, Ferguson

Referee: Stephen Weatherall (Belfast)

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