Dean Shiels confident Coleraine 'making progress' and focusing on the positives after narrow Larne defeat

Coming off Thursday’s UEFA Conference League clash with Swiss outfit St Gallen, the Inver Reds made multiple changes with star striker Andy Ryan and Shaun Want not involved in the matchday squad, while Levi Ives dropped to the bench.

The hosts took the lead moments after half-time as Paul O’Neill struck home from close range but the Bannsiders responded almost immediately when Jamie Glackin finished off a flowing attacking move.

However, former player Conor McKendry, who returned to Larne from Coleraine during the summer, fired in what was ultimately the winner from distance in the 63rd minute.

The visitors created multiple chances to find a second goal and were denied in the dying seconds by a superb defensive intervention from 19-year-old Logan Wallace, poking Alfie Gaston’s cross out of Matthew Shevlin’s path when Shiels’ side looked destined for an equaliser.

"I can't ask for more from the players,” Shiels told the club’s media channel. “We gave everything and right to the last second we created massive opportunities and kept going and going.

"If feels as if we're making progress. We came to Larne at the end of last season and lost 5-0 so it's a measure of the rebuild in the summer and progress we've shown, we're really happy with it.

"Having the best home record in the league is great for us and we're proud of that but we need to pick up more points away from home. We can't be too critical of players missing chances, especially Shevy.

"It's a massive chance and on another day they go in. He's been on fire recently and they are fine margins. Alfie Gaston is clear down the side and pulled it across for Shevy to tap in and the defender comes in with his big toe - how it doesn't go in his own net is hard to work out.

"We kept going and going and that's the proudest thing I can say. We created chances at a really hard place to come and there are more positives than negatives."