Tjay De Barr catches Cian Bolger late and Ishmael Barbara cautions the former Wycombe Wanderers man. However, Larne might have wished he played an advantage as the ball found a white shirt.

They will, though, be happy to see the Red Imps dangerman in the book.

Matty Lusty can finally celebrate after VAR ruled that his long-range strike went over the line after smashing against the crossbar.

Tomas Cosgrove does indeed get at the home defence after pilfering the ball from Joe with a lovely sliding challenge. He plays in Andy Ryan, who is sent cartwheeling by a poor challenge from Rafa Munoz - the Imps player is booked.

The Scottish striker's free-kick on the edge of the box gets over the wall but can't dip to trouble Nauzet Santana.

Larne's heads have not dropped since the equaliser.

Super work from Dylan Sloan sees him get to the byline in the box. His cutback finds Matty Musty whose shot is blocked and Sloan is flagged offside as he goes for the ricocheted ball.

Tiernan Lynch's men know they can get at this home defence.

Chris Gallagher is cautioned for a sliding challenge on the dangerous Tjay De Barr. The referee has certainly not allowed the physical side of the game to flow this evening.

Larne had to wait until late to get the goal in Pristina but a stunning strike from Lusty gives them a first-half lead.

The travelling support are getting louder but the Red Imps have a dangerous free-kick on the right.

Cian Bolger gets to the ball before goalkeeper Nauzet Santana from a Tomas Cosgrove free-kick. The ball drops to Shaun Want but he can't divert it on target.

First big chance on 13 minutes.

Ten gone in Faro and there is nothing to report on as of yet. Larne will be happy as they settle into the game.

Six minutes gone and neither keeper has been troubled. It is a big pitch and the two sides are feeling each other out.

It almost feels like a COVID-era game in a near-empty 30,000 seater stadium. However, you can hear the travelling Inver Army loud and proud.

We are underway at the Estadio do Algarve as our Maltese official Ishmael Barbara blows his whistle.

The hosts get us underway wearing red and black kicking right to left. Larne are in their all white change strip.

Larne progressed to the Uefa Conference League play-off round after beating 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.

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Image source, Press Eye

Larne have a "great chance" of qualifying for the Uefa Conference League but their play-off against Lincoln Red Imps "won't be easy", says Desi Curry, who has held high-profile roles in both the Northern Ireland and Gibraltar football structures.

After serving as the Irish FA's technical director, Curry spent five years in a similar role with the Gibraltar FA between 2017 and 2022 and had a spell in charge of their national team, which included several Lincoln players.

"For Larne, it's fantastic opportunity and they'll be very well prepared for that," Curry told BBC Sport NI.

"I think they have a great chance but over two legs it's not going to be an easy game.

"Both teams will be giving it their all because the financial rewards are so big but it's a great opportunity for Northern Ireland football to showcase the NIFL league on the European stage."

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As 27-times champions of the Gibraltar Football League, Lincoln Red Imps are stalwarts in the qualifying rounds of Uefa's club competitions.

While classed as a full-time professional team, several of their players have jobs outside of football, ranging from customs officers to policemen.

They are most famous for beating Celtic in the 2016 Champions League qualifiers. In what was Brendan Rodgers' first game as Celtic boss, a Lee Casciaro goal was enough to give the Gibraltarians a famous 1-0 win.

While Celtic remain their most high-profile scalp, the Red Imps' most notable achievement was reaching the group stage of the inaugural Conference League in 2021.

Having seen off Riga in the play-off round, they became the first club from Gibraltar to reach the group stages in European club competition.

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Image source, Getty Images

Larne midfielder Leroy Millar says the team is treating tonight's Uefa Conference League play-off first leg against Lincoln Red Imps as just another game despite knowing the magnitude of the occasion.

Victory over the side from Gibraltar over two legs would see Larne become the first Irish League team to reach the group stage of a major European competition.

"We know it's going to be massive for the fans, club and even the league - we're one round away from the group stages," said Millar.

"But we're not really thinking like that and it's important not to get caught up in that. The boys are just treating it as another game and hopefully we can keep the tie in the balance going into next week."

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Image source, Press Eye

Tiernan Lynch makes just one change from last week's dramatic victory over Ballkani and it's an enforced one.

Aaron Donnelly was sent off in the post-match melee and is replaced in a like-for-like swap with Shaun Want, who partners captain Cian Bolger at centre half. It is the Scottish defender's first start of 2024 after a torrid time with injuries.

New signings Jordan McEneff and Benji Magee are among the subs and could make their debut off the bench.

The hosts were on the wrong end of a penalty shootout on Sunday as they lost the Pepe Reyes Super Cup to St Joseph's. after pushing Dinamo Minsk all the way in their Europa League qualifier.

Manager Javier Sanchez Muniz makes two changes from that tie with Gibraltar internationals John Sergeant and Lee Casciaro making way for Rafa Munoz and Kike Gomez.

Lincoln Red Imps: Nauzet Santana, Ayew, Munoz, Torrilla, Nano, Brito, Lopes, Joe, Gomez, De Barr, Garcia

Subs: Lopez, Smith, Bent, Burnet, Casciaro, Peacock, Pedro Martin, Pozo, Sciortino, Valarino, Villacanas, Yahaya

Larne: Ferguson, Cosgrove, Bolger, Want, Ives, Sloan, Thomson, Gallagher, S. Graham, Lusty, Ryan

Subs: D. Graham, Altintop, Devlin, Glynn, Magee, McEneff, McKendry, O'Neill

Image source, Press Eye

Larne are just two games away from creating history as the first Irish League team to reach the group stage of a major European competition.

There would be the prestige and pride from such a groundbreaking achievement but also the riches that come with progressing to the Conference League groups.

In their way stand Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar and they host tonight's play-off first leg at the Estadio Algarve in the Portuguese city of Faro.

Lincoln boast a fine European pedigree including a famous Champions League win over Celtic eight years ago.

It's all to play for and we'll keep you up to date as the action unfolds with live text commentary and in-play clips.

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, Press Eye