Role model Matty Lusty is 'so talented', says Gary Haveron as striker sinks Cliftonville with deadly double
Gary Haveron believes Larne striker Matty Lusty is the perfect role model for the club’s academy players after he netted a brace in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory against Cliftonville.
The Invermen completely dominated the first half on home soil and took the lead on 13 minutes when Tomas Cosgrove’s cut back found Lusty at the edge of the area. The 23-year-old hit an instinctive effort towards goal that took a deflection off Shaun Leppard and into the net.
After seeing further chances come and go – including two in particular for Paul O’Neill – a clinical Lusty struck again on 38 minutes as he picked the ball up from deep, went on a mazy run and picked his spot.
Cliftonville’s best two chances landed at the boot of Liam McStravick but to no avail and they had ‘keeper PJ Morrison to thank as he made a string of fine saves to thwart Lusty, O’Neill, James Simpson and Matt Ridley from adding to Larne’s lead.
Lusty originally joined Larne in 2020 as part of the then newly launched Scholarship Programme and Haveron believes he is finally showcasing the best of his talents for the champions.
"This lad is so talented,” he told Larne’s social media platforms.
"We've got a number of really, really talented young players at the football club.
"Matty Lusty is no secret...he's an extremely talented boy and I think he just needs to stay fit and healthy.
"I said that was the only thing standing in the boy's way in terms of showing what he's really about.
"I actually spoke to our scholarship kids today, a number of them were in the gym, and I actually talked to them about the importance of if they really want to kick on, they need to take Matty Lusty and Dylan Sloan and look at them.
"James Simpson is another one that's extremely dedicated, Logan Wallace, too.
"I think when Matty came into the programme he was very slightly built but what he has turned himself into athletically is second to none.
"He’s so dedicated, he looks after his body so well and he’s turned himself into such a powerful and explosive player.”
Larne move up to third in the Premiership standings and are unbeaten in all their five games to date as Cliftonville failed to make it three wins on the spin.
Haveron admits the result could have been even more emphatic had they found a way to breach PJ Morrison, who produced an inspired performance between the posts for the visitors.
He added: "I think the only thing I could say at half-time was that this game should be dead and buried.
"The amount of chances we had, how dominant we were, I thought we were excellent.
"I thought we were so lively in the top end of the park with the running power of Matty Lusty, Dylan Sloan, Sean Graham, Paul O'Neill was fantastic.
"Ronan Doherty was dictating the game in the middle with Cricky (Chris Gallagher) and our back line was as solid as always.
"We asked a lot of questions, their goalkeeper made a lot of saves that kept them in the game, and as I said, the only criticism is that the game wasn't dead and buried by half-time.
Next up for Larne is an east Antrim derby at Carrick Rangers on Saturday, whilst Cliftonville host Glentoran.