'Nothing is ever won in January': Gary Haveron says league leaders Larne still have to work to do to regain Gibson Cup

After seeing off fellow challengers Coleraine last time out, Larne then extended their unbeaten run to 15 Premiership contests after sealing a 4-1 win over 10-man Glentoran at The Oval.

A penalty from Paul O’Neill edged the Inver Reds into an early lead but that was cancelled out by Daniel Larmour’s equaliser.

But any momentum for the hosts was gone when Ryan Cooney was dismissed for a tackle on Sean Graham just after the half hour mark, with Larne then making their extra man count when Chris Gallagher blasted in from long range.

Haveron’s boys completed the job after the restart when Tiarnan O’Connor teed up O’Neill for his second, before full-back Tomas Cosgrove got in on the act with less than 15 minutes remaining.

The victory gives Larne a double-digit cushion at the summit but Haveron warned his players can ill-afford to rest on their laurels.

"I think anyone who knows the game knows nothing is ever won in January,” he told Larne TV.

"There's a long way to go...it's just another three points and that's all it is.

"It's against top level opposition but this league is littered top to bottom with really tough teams.

"Every single game is going to be a battle between now and the end of the season.

"We have to be prepared for every challenge and Friday night we now go to Windsor Park and we know how difficult a task that's going to be.

"They're a classy outfit Linfield and they do things the right way...so we know how difficult it is and we will go there to try and back up another result.”

Haveron credited his players for maintaining their discipline after Cooney’s red card and how important it was to edge ahead just before the half-time whistle.

He added: "Really delighted...it's such a hard place to come.

"Especially coming off the back of the Coleraine game, it's important that we back up every result and I felt we did that tonight.

"You know what you're going to get when you come to The Oval. They're going to be fired up, their fans get involved in the game and after what was a really bright start, I felt we kind of lost our way a bit for a period of time.

"We allowed them to creep back into the game, but again, obviously decisions change games. I felt the sending off probably did that and I do think it was the right decision based on what I saw in real time.

"You know coming to places like this that discipline is absolutely key. You have to be disciplined, you have to keep 11 men on the park and that's why we took Cricky (Chris Gallagher) off at half-time.

"We managed the game really well after that...we regrouped at half-time and in the second half we put them to the sword. I'm absolutely delighted."