Larne boss McAlinden finds Steel Cup defeat ‘hard to take’

“Consistency is something that we must incorporate into our play. There’s no point in turning up for a couple of weeks and then taking a couple of weeks off. We have to find a decent level of play which we can aspire to achieve every time we go out,” states the manager of a Larne team which was dumped out of two competitions in four days.

Beaten 2-1 by Glentoran at The Oval last Tuesday night was perhaps acceptable, but losing to Sport & Leisure in the Steel and Sons Cup on Saturday in a match for which they were viewed as strong favourites was a little bit hard for McAlinden to stomach.

“Saturday was definitely hard to take, going out to a team playing in a division below you is not something that can happen without you suffering some pain, especially when we had a wee eye on this trophy as one that we could maybe win.

“We had stressed to the players that, if we were going to lose in the Steel Cup, whatever else happened we had to make sure that they would have to play very, very well to beat us.

“As it turned out, they deserved to win alright, but mainly because of their physicality and the fact that we really didn’t create anything.

“It was very much a missed opportunity, in my book.

“They went in front and we found ourselves having to chase the game, resulting in them seizing the opportunity to get a second when we were a wee bit exposed.

“We pushed again for a score and got one, but were then left open again as we pressed forward in search of an equaliser.

“The defeat by the Glens was less annoying, but it was one of those games you would like to be able to play again, putting into use the experience from the first outing. We did okay at The Oval but we actually could have played a bit better,” reflected McAlinden, who eagerly wants a win this weekend.

“If we play as I know we can, we are capable of beating anyone in the league and we need to continue putting points on the board and building on the win over Dundela.

“PSNI may be bottom of the table but they will put up stiff resistance at Newforge on Saturday and we will only leave there with what we earn and the players will be told that in no uncertain terms,” added the disappointed Inver manager.