Gary Haveron hails Larne strength in depth after extending unbeaten Premiership run

Tiarnan O’Connor and a Fraser Bryden own goal put the Inver Reds 2-0 up, but the Crues fought back as Harry Jewitt-White and Bryden got their side back on level terms.

However, Larne roared back through Matty Lusty and Paul O’Neill to secure maximum points.

Here’s what Gary Haveron said after the match:

THREE POINTS – BUT IT WASN’T PLAIN SAILING?

"No, it never is. It's never going to be when you're coming down to places like Seaview.

"I've got a lot of admiration for Crusaders because of the way they're playing. I know Decky's (Caddell) up against it this year because he's had to blood a lot of younger players and he's had to go outside the league to get some Scottish lads in and everyone else.

"He's had a tough ask this season but I think he's done a brilliant, brilliant job.

"His team plays great football and they're competitive in every single game that they play. Every game you see, even if they've maybe lost by a few goals, they've been very, very competitive up to the later stages of matches.

"At 2-0 we had the game in the palm of our hands. The only disappointment was we didn't score more. Leroy's (Millar) gone through, Paul's gone through. We've missed chances. We maybe should have had this game buried after 35 minutes.

"But the penalty decision, for me, it's harsh. I think the initial foul is on Tomas (Cosgrove). He certainly feels that he's ushering the ball out and the boy goes through the back of him.

"There's no complaints that he's pulled him to the ground because you can see he did, but the initial foul was on him.

"I’m disappointed we didn't react when Ro (Ferguson) saves the penalty, we didn't follow in on it.

"At half-time I felt this game should have been out of sight.

"Second half they come out and it's a wonder strike by Fraser Bryden. I really hope he's OK because he's a talented, talented boy.

"It's an absolute wonder hit and that can happen to you and you can panic in that moment at 2-1, but we never panicked and we've got strength and depth in our squad and we use the strength in depth that we have.

"Matty Lusty comes on and runs away from the centre-half, he can do that to anybody. Conor McKendry produces a great cross and Paul O'Neill hung up there for a fortnight.

"At the end of the day it probably looks a little bit more comfortable because at 2-1 it was a bit nervy, but in saying that, we missed another three or four chances after that and could have put a bit of gloss on it.”

WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LARNE AND CRUSADERS?

"Well, we weren't clinical. I thought they were clinical with the two chances that they sort of had.

"We created our own problems a little bit as well. It's a great hit (Bryden goal), really good play in the wide areas. Great delivery into the box and it's a great goal.

"You look back at that and if it's not scored against you, you're clapping it.

"They were gritty, they stuck at it and they kept fighting.

"Ultimately our strength, depth and quality coming off the bench and the strength of our squad and our team was the difference.”

HAD TO WIN GAME TWICE ALMOST?

"Yeah, but they didn't panic and I said to them, ‘don't panic, it can happen.’.

"For all our dominance, not to dominate the scoreboard, that was where we sort of let them off the hook a little bit.

"We should have been more dominant on the scoreboard, we could have had it out of sight.

"We've gone through with Leroy and Paul and we somehow haven't managed to score a goal to go three up and at that point, it's a long way back for them – I don't think they would have come back from that but we left it in the balance.

"We never panicked. We've got really good, composed players able to put their foot on the ball, to keep playing our football, to keep creating opportunities, and we got the joy in the end.”