Larne lost 2-1 at home to Linfield in the Premiership on Tuesday night, conceding a late winner to slip to a second consecutive defeat. Millar gave the hosts a first-half lead, but second-half goals from Brennan and McGee turned the game around at Inver Park.
The result leaves Larne fourth in the Premiership with 19 points from eight games, 12 points behind leaders Coleraine. Their recent form now reads three wins and two losses from their last five outings, with back-to-back defeats following a strong winning run. This sequence of results, which includes wins over Crusaders FC, Carrick Rangers, and Cliftonville FC, has seen them score 17 goals and concede only six this season for a goal difference of plus 11. However, the recent losses to Linfield and Coleraine FC have halted their momentum.
Millar opened the scoring in the 21st minute, finishing a sharp move to put Larne ahead. The home side held that advantage until the break, but Linfield levelled six minutes after the restart when Brennan found the net. The game turned fractious with a flurry of yellow cards, including bookings for Cosgrove, O'Neill and Bent for Larne.
With the match heading for a draw, McGee struck the decisive blow for the visitors in the 82nd minute. Larne made a flurry of late substitutions, including introducing O'Hara and Gibson, but could not find an equaliser.
Attention now turns to a trip to face Bangor on Saturday 24 October. Bangor sit 12th in the standings and were beaten 1-0 by Larne in the reverse fixture earlier this season. The match at Clandeboye Park kicks off at 6pm local time.
Manager David Healy said his Linfield side's 2-1 win at Inver Park kept them in the title hunt. Larne's defeat was their second consecutive league loss. The club's recent form now reads three wins and two losses from their last five outings. They have scored 18 goals and conceded eight this season.
