Gary Haveron pleased to register all three points as Larne show patience to overcome a resolute Bangor
Larne manager Gary Haveron admits it was great to see the Invermen show a different way of winning as they were pushed all the way by a dogged Bangor side.
The two teams met in a rearranged BOYLE Sports Premiership fixture on Tuesday, with Larne widely expected to claim a comfortable win against the Seasiders at Inver Park.
However, it didn’t prove to be that way as it took until the 76th minute for Larne to finally breach the Bangor defence and it was certainly worth the wait.
A fine strike from distance by Dylan Sloan proved to be the difference in east Antrim as Larne maintained their unbeaten start to the domestic campaign.
Whilst not having any complaints with the performance, Haveron was relieved to see their pressure finally pay dividends through Sloan’s cracking effort.
"Ultimately, we can play brilliantly and come away with nothing,” he told Larne’s social media platforms.
"I thought a lot of the performance was really, really good.
"We controlled the game, we dominated it, they came with a game plan to sit in behind the ball.
"They were a bit of a threat on the counter attack, but by and large, we've absolutely dominated the game.
"We've created all the chances...it's taken a wonder goal by Dylan Sloan but that's what it takes sometimes to break down a stubborn defence.
"You can see that they're a very committed side, they heavily changed the team that played last Saturday...and they frustrated us for large spells, but ultimately, we got what we deserved and that was three points.”
Haveron was left aggrieved by a major referee call in the first half when Matty Lusty was brought down by Alfie Mitchell.
Referee Steven Gregg elected to caution the defender – rather than produce a red card – a decision which the Larne supremo labelled as “terrible”.
"We missed chances but I have to say the biggest turning point was they shouldn't even have 11 players on the park,” he bemoaned.
"They should be down to 10 men, it's the most clear and obvious sending off I've ever seen.
"He's the last man, he misses the ball, takes out Matty Lusty and the referee says to me that the ball was in the goalkeeper's hands.
"It never went anywhere near the goalkeeper...Matty just moved the ball wide of the player and wide of the goalkeeper, he's got the momentum of his run with an open net to go into and he gives him a yellow card.
"I get the referee has to ultimately make the final decision but there's not a single person in this ground who didn't think that was a red card.”
It means Bangor have a solitary point from their opening five fixtures and reigning champions Larne now turn their focus to Saturday’s assignment at Portadown – who have lost all five games so far.
Haveron concluded: “There’s not an easy game to be had in this league.
"Some teams might steamroll another team one week and then come out and get beat the next – that’s just the Irish League in a nutshell.”