Dylan Sloan's long-range strike 14 minutes from time condemned Bangor to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Inver Park. The result extends Larne's unbeaten start to the season while leaving Bangor still searching for their first victory, now sitting 10th in the Premiership with just one point from five games.
Sloan settles tight contest
Larne, the defending champions, dominated possession in the first half but found a resolute Bangor defence difficult to break down. The visitors survived an early mix-up and saw Paul O'Neill miss a chance for the hosts in the opening minutes. Bangor's own attempts came through Matt Ridley and Dan Bent, whose shots were blocked, while Ronan Doherty and Tiarnan Mulvenna forced saves from Larne keeper Alfie Mitchell.
Matty Lusty was through on goal for Bangor but was stopped by Mitchell, and the game remained goalless at the break. Larne's build-up play was criticised for being too slow in the second period, but the breakthrough finally arrived. Sloan collected the ball 25 yards out and fired a low drive past Rohan Ferguson in the 76th minute.
Bangor pushed for an equaliser late on. Substitute Mark Randall saw a shot deflected wide, but Larne held on to secure their second consecutive win. The visitors' performance, however, drew strong praise from their manager.
Feeney finds positives
Lee Feeney said his team's display was super despite the result. He stated that for it to be disappointing to come away with a 1-0 defeat to the league champions just says it all. He acknowledged disappointment with the first three games of the season but believes his squad has become far more competitive in recent outings, describing Larne as a proper machine.
Larne boss Gary Haveron admitted the win felt overdue. He said it was a long time coming, adding that his side was very dominant in the game but Bangor came with a game plan.
Table trouble and a tough test ahead
The defeat leaves Bangor in a precarious league position. They have scored only two goals all season while conceding 12, giving them a goal difference of minus ten. They are already 15 points adrift of early leaders Coleraine.
Attention now turns to a daunting next assignment. Bangor host third-placed Linfield at their home ground on Saturday, 12 December. Linfield's strong early form makes it another severe test for Feeney's men as they look to finally get points on the board. The full run of upcoming games is available on our fixtures page.
