Jim Magilton left to rue lack of ruthless edge as 'really sloppy goal' costs Cliftonville

Matty Lusty put his side ahead after 27 minutes and Andy Ryan sealed maximum points in the closing stages – netting a 12th league goal in 13 appearances since returning from injury.

With Glentoran drawing 1-1 against Linfield at The Oval, Larne further extended the gap at the top with four matches left to play.

Here’s what Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton said after the match:

THOUGHTS ON THE GAME?

"Given the conditions and given the game and the importance of the game, I thought we applied ourselves well.

"We had a great opportunity with Brian (Healy) and had we taken that...for a player of his ability, it's a great chance.

"When you get a goal in front against the top, top teams in the league, it gives you a platform to go and play, it gives you confidence to go and play, and we didn't capitalise on that.

"The goal against was really poor decision-making all round, we didn't make Larne work hard enough for the goal and it was a really, really sloppy goal from our point of view.

"We regroup, I thought we passed the ball actually better second half against the wind, for whatever reason, and again carved out a really good opportunity.

"For us it's a game of fewer opportunities and if you don't take them against the quality that Larne possess, they’ll always get an opportunity and they took them, they were more clinical in the box than we were today.”

HAD CHANCES AT DIFFERENT STAGES BUT JUST HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS?

"When you're playing against top players and top sides, the longer they stay in the game, the longer an opportunity is going to come up and you've got people like Andy Ryan, Conor McKendry, players of that real quality, Benji (Magee) comes on.

"So we had to score and we didn't. Larne were always going to create opportunities to score and they did.”

GREAT TO HAVE HARRY WILSON BACK?

"Today was about making sure that we applied ourselves, making sure our attitude was spot on, which I thought it was.

"Getting Harry minutes, Jonny Addis minutes, is important for us.

"We obviously have to nurse two or three more through next week, Rory (Hale) was suspended.

"All attention now, because it's the next game (Irish Cup semi-final), obviously a game of huge importance for both clubs, we'll have a free week and we can then concentrate on that.”

HOW GOOD WILL IT BE TO HAVE THAT FREE WEEK TO PREPARE AFTER BUSY TIME?

"It will be (welcomed) because every midweek game that we've had for the last two months has kind of been critical.

"You hope you can come through those games, but we haven't managed to do that because we bring one back, we lose two.

"It's great now that we have that opportunity to make sure that we're all okay and we're ready and we have to be focused.”