'He’s back training': Gary Haveron hopeful Larne star will be 'involved very shortly' after three-month injury absence

With nearest rivals Glentoran not in league action this weekend as they prepare for Sunday’s BetMcLean Cup final against Linfield, the Inver Reds had an opportunity to open up a gap which had closed to only two points in a thrilling title race.

Andy Ryan’s first half brace – the Scottish striker has now scored 10 goals in 11 league appearances since returning from injury – paved the path for success, but Andrew Mitchell’s stunning late strike ensured a nervy finish.

Haveron’s men held on to secure a third consecutive win across competitions with their final pre-split fixture coming in Friday’s trip to Glenavon.

Larne will be boosted by the return of Leroy Millar from suspension while Mark Randall is set to make his comeback in the near future – the former Arsenal midfielder has been out of action since early-December.

“We can’t control what other people do,” Haveron told the club’s media channel. “We can’t control what other results will be, they have to now go out and get the points the same way we have.

"It’s an opportunity to strike first, an opportunity to put the gap there and it’s up to them to try and close it. We’ll only focus on ourselves.

"We’ll put all our effort into next week against Glenavon, it’s another opportunity to try and get three points. We know how tough a task it will be because Mick (O’Connor) has done a great job in making them so competitive.

“I’ll take three wins in a row every day of the week and we need to keep building on it. I’ve got complete faith in the players and group.

"We have gone through those games without Leroy Millar, we haven’t had Mark Randall but he’s now back training and knocking on the door, we hope to have him involved very shortly.

"Matty Lusty has been a precaution with a calf strain he picked up at Ballymena, where he was excellent. We’ve gone into today’s game without Dylan Sloan and Benji Magee dropped out with a knee niggle.

"If I can get all of those boys back in contention for places, it’s going to mean we’re really strong.”

Larne were denied a 17th league clean sheet in the closing stages, but Haveron was delighted to hold on for maximum points.

"It was really hard fought,” he added. “I thought we started the game really, really well in terms of our shape, frustrating them and causing them problems.

"Chucky scores a wonder goal to get us ahead, we build on it with the penalty, I felt we worked the ball in behind them on a number of occasions and didn’t take advantage of it.

"I felt we maybe left a goal or two out there in the first half. We limited them to very few chances on goal for a lot of the play they had because they are a really good football team.

"I never felt we let them hurt us, stretch us or get in behind us really.

"We got in at half-time and I did warn them about sitting off too deep and allowing them to have too much control, but I guess it’s only natural at this stage of the season wanting to defend what you have.

"When Jordan (McEneff) was forced to go off, we had to change the shape of the team and I don’t think it helped us, but we had to be disciplined, resilient, dig in and bar a wonder goal, it probably made the last five minutes more nervy than it needed to be.

"I’m disappointed we didn’t keep a clean sheet but delighted we got three points.”