Larne manager Gary Haveron declared “I have to look at myself first and foremost” after he made seven changes for their BetMcLean Cup quarter-final defeat to Ballymena United – but insists it’s “no excuse” for their competition exit.

The Inver Reds sit top of the Premiership table and extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches with a 2-1 triumph over Dungannon Swifts on Saturday.

In an attempt to freshen up his squad and grant playing opportunities, Haveron rung the changes in Ballymena but watched on as his side were beaten 2-0 thanks to goals from Success Edogun and Daire O’Connor.

It was only the third time this season Larne failed to score a goal and Haveron felt Ballymena, who are without a manager following Jim Ervin’s weekend exit, showed more desire to seal progression.

placeholder image — Larne manager Gary Haveron. (Photo by Pacemaker)

"It’s extremely disappointing,” he told the club’s media channel. “We made a lot of changes to the team and I have to look at myself first and foremost – did I make too many changes?

"I desperately want to give people opportunities to play, they work so hard every day and we have to look across the squad, who needs a rest and with a few injuries and knocks, but it’s no excuse.

"I pick the team and I take responsibility for performances, good and bad, and I take that one fully on board. We were second best, they seemed hungrier and they’d more desire to get on the end of things.

"To get done by two set-pieces is really disappointing from our point of view. The surface wasn’t easy, but that’s just an excuse and I’m not here to make excuses.

"They pushed us over and wanted it more...that’s not good enough. We need to do better and it’s a really poor night.”

Chris Gallagher and Mark Randall both dropped out of the matchday squad through injury while Conor McKendry, Sean Graham and Leroy Millar were amongst the substitutes – the latter duo were introduced at half-time alongside Ryan Nolan.

"It’s difficult when you throw in so many new boys,” added Haveron. “We made six or seven changes to the starting team from the last game, maybe it’s too many changes, maybe I could have done less.

“When the boys work so hard in training and they show levels, when they come into games they need to grab it, and ok some of the boys maybe aren’t fully up to match speed and it takes them a bit to get into the game, but we allowed them to get their noses in front.

"They had momentum in the game and we struggled to wrestle it back. They got over the line and the second goal sums up our performance.”