Larne reach European play-off after penalty shootout win

Larne will now face Lincoln Red Imps in the next round

Larne are through to the Uefa Conference League play-off round after they beat Kosovan side Ballkani 4-1 on penalties at Inver Park.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Ballkani levelled the tie on the stroke of half time through Walid Hamidi's penalty.

Hamidi coolly dispatched his spot kick after he was fouled by Larne captain Cian Bolger.

Both sides had chances in normal time and extra-time with Rohan Ferguson and Enea Kolici forced into a number of saves.

Ferguson was then the hero in the shootout, saving two penalties from Hamidi and Ajazaj Engjell.

As Larne celebrated, tempers flared with players and backroom staff from both clubs getting involved in unsavoury scenes before order was restored.

Tiernan Lynch's side will now face Lincoln Red Imps in the next round after the Gibraltar side lost their Europa League tie 3-2 on aggregate against Dinamo Minsk on Thursday night.

Qualification for the play-off round has already secured the Irish Premiership champions in the region of in the region of £850,000 which would all in like likelihood be tripled if they progress to the group stage of the competition.

Ballkani score against the run of play

Walid Hamidi opened the scoring from the penalty spot

Larne had some early chances to extend their narrow aggregate lead with the first coming via Chris Gallagher on 12 minutes.

However, the midfielder blazed over from the edge of the box following good build-up from Joe Thomson and Andy Ryan.

Thomson then almost pulled a stunning strike out of the bag three minutes later when he let Levi Ives' throw drift across his body before lashing a looping volley just wide of Kolici's near post.

It was then Ryan's turn on 22 minutes for an effort which forced the Ballkani stopper into a smart save.

The game was tilted in Larne's direction as Ballkani were struggling to gain a foothold, but they began to edge their way back into the game without really troubling Rohan Ferguson.

However, just as the fourth official indicated the amount of added time, Cian Bolger swiped at a clearance and took down Hamidi and the Algerian smashed home the spot kick to level the tie on aggregate.

Larne hold their nerve in shootout

Ferguson was the hero in the shootout

In the second half, it was end-to-end with chances for both teams.

Kolici pulled off a stunning save from a deflected Matty Lusty effort that seemed destined for the bottom corner while, at the other end, a shot from Marsel Ismajlgeci whistled just wide from a narrow angle.

Sunday Adetunji looked dangerous all night and was denied by a superb sliding challenge from Thomson before stinging the palms of Ferguson on 70 minutes.

Extra-time started with two immediate chances at either end, first Bleart Tolaj flashed wide before Paul O'Neill's looping header landed on the roof of the net.

Neither team could force a dramatic winner and we headed to penalties where Larne scored all four of their spot kicks with Thomson, Mark Randall, Ryan and Gallagher all netting.

Ferguson made two stunning saves from Hamidi and Engjell to send Larne into the Conference League play-offs although the unnecessary scenes afterwards - which appeared to be instigated by the frustrated Kosovans - couldn't be glossed over.