INSTITUTE: Three and easy at Inver Park
Once again youngster Alex Pomeroy stole the show as he scored one and played his part in Stute’s other two goals, as the teenager was super all night.
Boss Kevin Deery made a bold move by playing three at the back and sticking both Pomeroy and Gareth Brown up top, with youngsters Jamie McIntyre and Jamie Dunne as wing-backs and the attacked minded style paid off.
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Hide AdIn fact Deery had to change his plans prior to kick-off as Shane McGinty pulled up in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Aaron Harkin.
But when you are on a hot streak making slight alterations didn’t matter as Harkin pulled up with the crucial opening goal.
The visitors had half a chance early on when Gareth Brown released Jamie Dunne, his low centre would have found an unmarked Pomeroy, but for Chris Rodgers timely clearance.
Moments later a long ball out of defence by Larne saw problems for Stute with Ciaron Harkin’s header back to Marty Gallagher flying over the goalkeeper’s head, but fortunately for the midfielder the ball sailed wide.
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Hide AdOn 26 minutes another ball into the Stute box caused problems, as Gallagher’s punch fell to Rodgers, but the centre-back’s strike was well saved by the Stute net-minder.
The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes following a super slick passing move with Pomeroy feeding Harkin inside the box, he superbly brought the ball onto his left-foot, before firing home past Billy Brennan from just inside the box.
Early in the second half Jamie McIntyre went close to doubling Stute’s lead, as he skipped through a few challenges before seeing his 20 yard strike being tipped around the post by Brennan.
More good play by the visitors saw Pomeroy turn his man on the edge of the box, but his low snap-shot was straight at Brennan.
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Hide AdStute doubled their lead on 65 minutes as Pomeroy broke in behind the Larne defence and with Brennan caught in no mans land, his first time shot from 25 yards gave the keeper no chance.
Pomeroy was in the thick of things again a minute later when this time he held the ball up and found McIntyre, who showed quick feet to get away from a few challenges before hammering the ball low into Brennan’s bottom right hand corner, from the right hand side of the box.
In the closing stages Larne scored a consolation goal as Eoin Gillan headed home from close range, after Rodgers header back across goal had picked him out.
The win moves Stute into third spot in the table and they go into Saturday’s game against league leaders with a spring in their step.
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Hide AdLarne: Brennan, Bradley, McGonnell, Nixon, Rodgers, McGrandles, Gillan, Irvine, McIlveen, Maguire, Stuart.
Institute: Gallagher (Lynch 75), O’Donnell, Scoltock, McDermott, McIntyre, C Harkin, Grace, A Harkin, Dunne (Hume 75); Pomeroy (McCrudden 75), Brown.