Larne 2
Ballymena 1
City Cup

Match Report

Ballymena and their supporters received an unpleasant shock on Saturday when Larne, who tie with Cliftonville and Newry Town for bottom place in the City Cup table, defeated the Light Blues by the odd goal in three.

The match was played at Larne before a small crowd. Ballymena had McKeen, ex-Dundela in goal, and tried a new centre-forward, Moore, of Queen's University.

Pretty combination by the Ballymena forwards was seen in the opening stages, particularly on the right wing, where Bassnett co-operated well with Gilmore and Kilpatrick.

Though the Larne backs did not seem to be able to cope with the speedy raids, Irvine was not unduly troubled as the marksmanship was poor.

At last the pressure was relieved, and Monaghan put in a couple of awkward-looking shots which McKeen safely negotiated.

McDiarmid and McNinch were also proving safe defenders. Twice in close succession Murphy was put in possession in favourable position, but his parting shots were wild.

After twenty minutes, however, the pressure told, and James Moorewith his head put the finishing touch to a bout of good forward combination.

A few minutes later Ballymena's goal had a miraculous escape, Morrow eluding McDiarmid cleverly and drawing out McKeen, but he had the misfortune of seeing the ball deflected on the goal line by Bassnett, the subsequent corner proving fruitless.

Five minutes from the interval there was another period of intensive Ballymena pressure, but Irvine luckily cleared his goal when an addition to the score seemed a certainty.

At the interval Larne were pressing, and Morrow initiated a movement which looked like bringing the equaliser, but McNinch luckily intervened.

In the first few minutes of the second half McKeen cleverly kicked the ball off Monaghan's toes when the latter was almost clean through, and a minute later Larne were awarded a free, the defenders handling, but Small, from the spot kick, shot over the bar.

The home team were having much the better of matters at this stage, and inside fifteen minutes had taken the lead.

Their first goal was scored by John Morrow, following a corner, and a spirited attack gave them the lead a minute later, Monaghan putting the finishing touch.

A period of even play followed, each side raiding in turn, but the respective defences were playing soundly.

Match report written by Ballymena Observer (9 May 1930)