Larne manager Gary Haveron hailed his players after they extended their advantage atop the Premiership table to six points with a 2-0 win over Ballymena United.

Andy Ryan’s penalty brace ended the Inver Reds’ four-game winless league run with a further boost coming with nearest rivals Coleraine losing out to Dungannon Swifts.

Here’s what Haveron said after the match:

HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT ONE?

placeholder image — Larne’s Andrew Ryan celebrates his goal. (Photo by Desmond Loughery/Pacemaker Press)

"Yeah, probably a professional job.

"We obviously understood the pitch is very, very difficult. I sympathise with the boys at Ballymena. they've had to play on it, getting caught up in those games and I think they maybe were a little bit jaded with the greatest respect...they put everything into it.

"But I think we managed the game quite well. Matty Lusty was just a constant threat today. I thought the kid was unplayable at times and caused them real problems there and we took advantage of them moments in the game.”

NEED SOMEONE COMPOSED AND ANDY RYAN IS CERTAINLY THAT?

"Yeah, there's nobody better over a penalty than Andy Ryan, he's absolutely clinical.

"His two penalties were as sweetly struck as you can get on what is a very, very difficult penalty spot.

"We were delighted to get the two goals and then it was a case of managing it. The sending off obviously helps because then we can manage the game and stay on the ball.

"Probably a little bit disappointed that we haven't added more goals to it. We had breakaways and chances and we haven't really capitalised and didn't make it a little bit more comfortable.

"But 2-0, clean sheet, coming here against a Ballymena team scrapping and fighting for everything, I’m really, really pleased.”

NEVER DOUBT ANDY FROM THE PENALTY SPOT?

"No you don’t.

"There was the one against Glentoran when his keeper saved it and it came back and he had that composure to hit the rebound.

"When you just miss a penalty and it comes back at you, you can panic, but Andy Ryan is the least likely person to panic in front of goal. He was absolutely clinical.”

MATTY LUSTY WAS SUPERB?

"I thought he was brilliant, I thought he caused them so many problems.

"He picks the ball up, he drives at people, he drives them onto the back foot and into the box and we capitalised from them having to go to ground and make a last-ditch tackle before he gets a shot off.

"I thought there was a chance for a couple more penalties in the second half but we're glad with the ones that we got and we move on.”

DAN BENT PLAYED CENTRE-BACK TODAY – WHY WAS THAT?

"Dan actually started off as a centre-half, that's where he actually started off in his career.

"He has the size, he has the aggression, he's got real composure to play from the back – he's got all the characteristics of being a really good centre-half.

"But he's very versatile because he's played in Europe for us as a nine, he's played in Europe as a ten, he's played in centre midfield for us in the league as a six and now he's dropped in and played centre-half.

"So to have somebody like Dan at your disposal who's willing to play wherever he's asked to play is absolutely brilliant.”

GOOD DAY FOR LARNE WITH COLERAINE LOSING?

"This league is very, very difficult, anybody is capable of beating anybody.

"But you've got to get that level of consistency about you, we've learned that ourselves.

"Even a fraction off, teams are capable of punishing you.

"I don't really worry about too many other teams, just worry about ourselves.”

TALK OF WHEELS FALLNG OFF AFTER RECENT RUN – PROVEN THAT WRONG TODAY?

"I try not to listen to too many on social media because there are so many experts on social media nowadays, they've all got something to say.

"We just focus on what we can control and that's our level of performance, our preparation and everything else. I thought the boys were absolutely brilliant today.”