Just as it looked like Larne might run away with this one, here's how Kirk McLaughlin got his side back into it.

Just the hint of a counter attack as Andy Ryan feeds Paul O'Neill but the Loughgall defence funnels back quickly to snuff out the danger.

Tim Marshall has a word with Loughgall front man Ryan Waide who takes umbrage at a challenge from Sean Graham.

Crucially, the referee keeps his cards in his pocket.

Only three minutes after they opened the scoring, Tiarnan O'Connor put Larne 2-0 ahead.

Here's how the former Welders man found the net.

Loughgall win their first corner.

Midway through the first half and Larne manager Gary Haveron will be delighted with the start his side has made.

They have looked bright from the opening whistle and been rewarded by two carbon copy goals from inswinging Sean Graham corners, Shaun Want and Tiarnan O'Connor the men to profit.

Loughgall, in contrast, are feeding on scraps and have yet to test Rohan Ferguson in the visitors' goal.

Larne have wasted no time in doubling their advantage here.

Here's how Shaun Want got them on their way.

Good pressing by Andy Ryan forces Loughgall keeper Nathan Gartside to kick the ball out of play.

That's a feature of the opening minutes with Ryan, Tiarnan O'Connor and Paul O'Neill all putting pressure on the Loughgall defence.

A cheap free-kick given away just inside the Larne half by Ryan Nolan presents a dead ball opportunity for the home side.

Conor McCloskey delivers a good ball into the box but James Carroll is unable to get his header on target.

Robbie Norton with a free-kick from inside his own half into the Larne danger area.

The ball runs harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The visitors have settled well into this game in the opening minutes.

Adam Towe makes his presence count in a physical challenge on Paul O'Neill inside the opening minute.

Andy Ryan gets us underway on a chilly night in the heart of the Orchard County.

Here's a few of those misses that left Haveron "heartbroken".

Larne boss Gary Haveron was a frustrated figure after his side's latest loss, a 1-0 reverse to Dungannon Swifts, feeling that the Inver Reds failed to make the most of their opportunities.

He told BBC Sport NI: "For long periods we asked so many questions, we got in behind time and time again and I can't believe we haven't got a goal. We were just wasteful.

"I was heartbroken for the boys to come in at half-time 1-0 down because they played so well the first 35 minutes.

"Everything seems to be going against us, the one chance they get they score."

Image source, Inpho

Larne won the last meeting of the sides 2-0 at Inver Park back in September but that will count for little tonight on a difficult surface in mid Ulster.

The home side, still without manager Dean Smith who is serving a 15 match suspension, shows three changes to that which earned a credible scoreless draw at Carrick Rangers on Saturday.

On loan striker Benji Magee is ineligible to face his parent club, captain Ben Murdoch is injured while Alberto Balde drops to the bench.

In their place come Lewis Francis, Conor McCloskey and Kirk McLaughlin, who will carry the goalscoring burden up front.

Similarly, the visitors make three changes to the team which lost 1-0 at home to Dungannon Swifts at the weekend.

Skipper Cian Bolger is injured, midfielder Aaron Donnelly is suspended and Jordan McEneff is included among the replacements.

Stepping up are Mark Randall, Paul O'Neill and Ryan Nolan.

Loughgall: Gartside, Andrade, Weide, Norton (c), Gibson, Francis, Mahon, Carroll, Towe, McCloskey, McLaughlin.

Subs: Turker, McMenemy, O'Brien, Balde, McCaffrey, Da Silva, Woolsey.

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Randall, O'Neill, O'Connor, Graham, Nolan, Cosgrove (c), Gallagher, Bayed, Ryan.

Subs: Graham, McKendry, McEneff, Brown, Devlin, Wallace, Simpson.

Referee: Tim Marshall.

Image source, BBC Sport

Back-to-back Irish Premiership champions Larne haven't won a league game since 4 February and have scored just once in their past five games.

Still, a win against Loughgall this evening would see Gary Haveron's side jump from seventh in the table up to fifth.

Tonight's hosts remain rooted to the foot of the table despite a point against Carrick Rangers last time out.

Can either claim a long-sought three points tonight? We'll have live-text and clips throughout so stay with us to find out!

Image source, Inpho