Larne have surged into the Irish Premiership title conversation with a five-game winning streak, positioning themselves six points behind leaders Coleraine with two matches in hand. The defending champions sit third in the table with 16 points from six games, having scored 12 goals and conceded just three.
Manager Gary Haveron has confirmed his players will now get a break, with their next league fixture not until 10 October against Crusaders. "The boys deserve a break," Haveron said. "They've been flat to the mat since the beginning of June." The early pre-season was due to European commitments, and Haveron emphasised the pause is "a mental refresh as much as anything else."
O'Neill and Lusty lead the charge
The recent form has been powered by a sharp upturn from striker Paul O'Neill. After a slow start, the out-and-out number nine exploded with a hat-trick in the 5-2 victory over Carrick Rangers last Friday, his first three goals of the campaign. He also provided an assist in that match. Fellow forward Matty Lusty, 23, has also been key, netting three goals in six league appearances, including a brace in the 2-0 win over Cliftonville. His progress was checked by a hamstring injury sustained in the Carrick game, a detail supporters can monitor on the club's injuries page.
Goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson marked his 250th appearance for Larne in that same high-scoring affair, a fitting milestone in a match that extended the team's unbeaten start to the season. The 5-2 result, with goals from O'Neill (three) and David Bent (two penalties), was characteristic of their attacking threat. You can review all the season's results and the current standings on our site.
Reshaped schedule ahead
The international break has caused a reshuffle of the fixture calendar. Matches against Linfield, Dungannon Swifts, Limavady United and Ballymena United have been moved to midweek slots in late October and early December, creating a congested period. This makes the current rest even more important for squad management. When action resumes, the focus will be on a tough trip to Seaview to face Crusaders, who are currently sixth. The full run of rearranged games is available on our fixtures list.
Larne's immediate task is to rest and return ready for the title push, with a key away game at Crusaders scheduled for 10 October.
The original report is at bbc.com
