Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Gareth McLaughlin (18 years 41 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Paul Byrne (38 years 163 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 26 years 231 days |
| Domestic Players: | 11 (100.00 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Gareth McLaughlin (18 years 41 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Paul Byrne (38 years 163 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 27 years 144 days |
| Domestic Players: | 14 (100.00 % of matchday squad) |
A sure sign of a good side is one that can grind out important results even when they don't play to the best of their ability. United are starting to develop into such a side if this win over Larne is anything to go by.
Anyone expecting another goal avalanche following last Monday's annihilation of Institute was sorely disappointed. Instead the game developed into a dour midfield battle with neither side seemingly capable of grabbing the upper hand.
United might have opened the scoring after five minutes when Trevor McLernon fired just over the bar while Larne themselves threatened on 21 minutes when John Kerr failed to finish when well placed.
Former United favourite Neil Candlish came close for the visitors on 30 minutes with a curling left foot effort which fortunately sailed just past the upright.
Then, just before half-time, Ricky Culbertson almost broke the deadlock with a 40-yard lob which forced Larne 'keeper Andy McDonald to backpedal to scramble over the bar.
However, on 57 minutes, United moved ahead. A mistake by Larne defender David Jess in failing to block a through ball allowed Shea Campbell in to direct the ball past McDonald and into the corner of the net.
McLernon might have added a second ten minutes from time with a free-kick from the edge of the area awarded for a foul on Oran Kearney only for the set piece to whizz wide.
Soon after Campbell wasted a glorious chance to double his tally when Culbertson floated over a cross but this time the 21-year-old could only offer a weak header which never really threatened.
This win lifts United back into contention for the Ulster Cup with a crucial game away to second-placed Bangor coming up on Saturday.
Match report written by Official Ballymena United website