Irish Premiership: Larne edge Crusaders to move to within a point of leaders Linfield
- Published
Champions Larne moved to within a point of leaders Linfield with a 2-0 victory against Crusaders at Seaview.
A superb strike from Joe Thomson just before half-time and a well-worked goal from Leroy Millar, helped Tiernan Lynch's side edge a tense encounter in north Belfast.
Crusaders felt they should have had a penalty when Adam Lecky went down under a challenge from Cian Bolger.
The hosts have now suffered three consecutive defeats.
They remain fourth in the table, 10 points behind Cliftonville in third, who have two games in hand.
Crusaders had the first chance of the game when Jarlath O'Rourke's looping cross left Philip Lowry through on goal.
He didn't connect properly with the ball, however, so his resulting strike proved a routine save for Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson.
It was a feisty first half with the home side believing they should have had a penalty on 32 minutes when Lecky fell over the outstretched leg of Bolger as he tried to connect with O'Rourke's throw-in.
Just four minutes later, Stephen Baxter's men were appealing for another spot-kick when Ross Clarke was brought down under the challenge of Levi Ives.
The visitors then broke the deadlock in the 46th minute when Ives played a quick free-kick across for Thomson, whose strike from outside the box flew under the diving Jonny Tuffey.
The north Belfast side, who lost Josh Robinson and Robbie Weir to injuries in the first period, started the second half with intent.
They came close to finding an equaliser when Paul Heatley connected with BJ Burns' long ball with Ferguson making a good save to tip the chance wide.
At the other end, Craig Farquhar cleverly slipped past O'Rourke before firing a strong strike towards goal, but Tuffey gathered the danger at the near post.
Lynch's side extended their lead when Ives connected with Andy Ryan's clever pass, travelled down the left channel and into the box, before playing the ball back for Millar, who made no mistake from close range.