Larne will play at Clandeboye Park this Saturday against Bangor, hoping to stop a recent decline and strengthen their place in the Premiership's top four. The league match begins at 18:00 local time.
The team managed by Tiernan Lynch has been defeated in its two most recent games, losing to Linfield and Coleraine. These losses, a 1-2 defeat to Linfield on Tuesday 20 October and a 2-3 loss to Coleraine FC on Friday 16 October, came after a positive spell of three consecutive wins, giving the club a mixed record of three wins and two losses from its last five fixtures. They hold fourth position, having earned 19 points from nine games, a record of six wins, one draw and two losses. Their overall goal difference stands at plus ten, having scored 18 and conceded eight.
Their rivals, Bangor, are at the foot of the standings and have not won in five matches. Larne will aim to win again after a previous 1-0 victory against this opponent on Tuesday 8 September. The upcoming fixture on Saturday 24 October presents a chance to close the 12-point gap to league leaders Coleraine FC.
Team news and recent lineups
In a past victory, Larne's lineup included R. Ferguson as goalkeeper, with defenders T. Cosgrove, D. Bent, M. Ridley and A. Donnelly. L. Millar, who scored in the recent loss to Linfield, C. Gallagher, R. Doherty, D. Sloan, M. Lusty and P. O'Neill featured in more advanced roles. Striker J. Simpson, who scored both goals in the defeat to Coleraine FC, is a key attacking threat.
Bangor's last league team selection featured players including G. Deane, C. McGuinness, R. Neale, L. Francis, H. Lynch, L. Hassin, T. Mulvenna, B. Arthurs, S. McCullough, O. Devlin and I. Hughes.
Every point matters for Larne's goals this season. The immediate objective is to earn a victory away from home this weekend to gain positive momentum and improve upon a recent form sequence that reads as two losses followed by three wins.
