Larne beat Ballymena to keep up chase for second spot
Larne kept up their pursuit of runner-up spot in the Irish Premiership by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Ballymena United.The Invermen's victory sees them move to within two points of second-placed Glentoran, who could restore their five-point cushion should they beat Glenavon in their game in hand over Gary Haveron's side on Wednesday evening.Defender Jordan McMullan fired the Sky Blues into an early lead with his second goal in successive games.Larne responded with a close-range strike from Tiarnan O'Connor before the break before Paul O'Neill fired the visitors in front in the second period.On a playing surface made difficult by a heavy pre-match rain shower, it was the home side who struck first in the eighth minute.Kian Corbally delivered a free kick from the left-hand side of Larne's penalty area and defender McMullan arrived unmarked to slide home a shot at the back post.The back-to-back league champions levelled on the half-hour when Jordan McEneff evaded a sliding tackle on the right hand side of the penalty area and delivered a low cross which O'Connor stretched to poke past Sean O'Neill from close range.Ballymena almost regained the lead virtually straight from the restart as Corbally burst into the penalty area but his shot cannoned to safety off the chest of keeper Rohan Ferguson, while Success Edogun's shot from an acute angle came back off the post.Larne introduced Andy Ryan at the interval and the Scottish striker almost took advantage of some hesitant Ballymena defending but keeper O'Neill was quickly off his line to block the effort.The visitors went in front on 73 minutes following a spell of pressure which culminated in McEneff's cross from the right falling to Olatunde Bayode. He completely mis-hit his shot but it fell into the path of Paul O'Neill who kept his cool to turn and fire past O'Neill.Ballymena thought they had forced an equaliser deep in injury time when Ben Kennedy fired home from close range following a corner but it was adjudged to be offside and the effort didn't count.
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