Gary Haveron clear Linfield clash 'all about three points' as Larne take step towards Premiership glory

The Inver Reds moved six points clear at the summit thanks to goals from Matty Lusty and Matt Ridley before Glentoran cut the gap to three once again by beating Dungannon Swifts at The Oval.

Here’s what Larne manager Gary Haveron had to say after the match:

ALL ABOUT GETTING OVER THE LINE?

"It was all about getting three points today.

"I fully expect the other teams to win their games, so it was really, really important that we got our three points.

"Obviously, our game was meant to be at 5:30pm, it was brought forward to 1pm, which I prefer because you'd rather get that result in the locker so you know what you're facing.

"We posted our three points, what they do or don't do, that's up to them. I fully expect them both to win.

“It’s really, really hard to come here to Windsor and get the result, but I'm delighted that we did.”

PERFECT START WITH MATTY SCORING AFTER EIGHT MINUTES?

"It was really, really key because it settled us.

"The first goal in a lot of these tight games are really, really important. We didn’t get it in the Irish Cup and then we felt we were chasing the game a little bit.

"It's been a tough week, our boys have played so much football. They looked tired in spells.

"Sean Graham was sick, Jordan McEneff was sick, we're missing Leroy Millar with an injury, Dylan Sloan dropped out yesterday with an injury, Dan Bent was suspended.

"You're coming here not at full force, but anybody who comes in, it's up to them to grab the spot with both hands.

"We were literally patching people up to put them out there today with sickness, but we've got a full week to recover now.

"To play 120 minutes last Saturday, having to go 60 minutes with 10 men (on Tuesday), it was a big ask for the players and I thought they dug in and showed real good character and resilience.”

DID EVERYONE REMAIN CALM AFTER A TOUGH WEEK WITH TWO DEFEATS?

"Yeah, I think it helps that you've got a lot of experienced campaigners in there.

"The majority of the group is still the group that went back-to-back and obviously played in Europe, so there's no pressure and no expectation.

"I thought they handled it really well today in the main.

"I thought we were a wee bit off the pace in the first half. The changes we made, I thought Ronan Doherty really came into the game and done really well.

"He gave us that extra little bit of emphasis of getting higher up the pitch. The boys dealt with it really well today and I'm really proud of them.”

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY LINFIELD’S TEAM SELECTION?

"Well, I guess this season, Linfield have to decide where their priorities lie and what they need in the remaining games.

"This is a club that has produced a large number of the Northern Ireland set-up – you think of Trai Hume, Callum Marshall and all the ones that have come through.

"Kids all need a time to play at some stage and they've got exceptionally talented kids who are coming through at the football club.

"You never really know what a kid's capable of doing until you throw them in at the deep end, and David obviously felt this was an opportunity to give them a try and give them game time – they certainly didn't let him down.

"I thought Finlay Ross was excellent in the middle of the park, young Oliver Wade, they did really well with their bag of tricks. Jon Graham, they're energetic players.

"These boys have really, really bright futures, and it's good to see them getting opportunities to play.

"Was I surprised? Maybe a little bit, but I understood they're a very, very talented group and they’ve to do what's right for the club moving forward.”