STEEL CUP: Larne breeze past Wellington Rec in 5-0 victory

Wellington Rec's Michael Moore gets a block in against Larne at Brookvale Park. INLT 37-032-PSB Photos: Phillip Byrne

The home side went into the derby tie full of confidence, having won all of their league games so far.

However, Larne began like the game with plenty of attacking intent and led 4-0 at the break, with Paul Maguire also having missed a penalty.

Maguire, playing against his old side, believed the handsome win was due to Larne’s professional approach to the game.

Wellington Rec's Andy Waide gets a cross in against Larne FC. INLT 37-031-PSB

“We began the game well and I think fitness told as well and it was a good win,” he said.

“A lot depends on how you approach the game as well. Last week, against Institute, we were maybe a bit tired coming off the back of the Portadown match.

“If we had been like that today then maybe it would have been a different story but all in all it was a good performance.

“I’m just trying to keep the goals tally ticking along so it was nice to get a couple more today.”

Progress for David McAlinden’s men didn’t look in any doubt and they took the lead with just six minutes gone.

Thomas Robinson picked up a ball from Scott Irvine and cut in off the left flank before firing home from 20 yards.

The advantage was doubled after 20 minutes when Maguire got his first goal of the day when he finished from the edge of the box.

It could well have been three inside half an hour but Maguire clipped the post from the penalty spot after he had been clipped inside the box by Andy Waide.

Not to be deterred Larne were three up on thirty minutes when Darren Stuart finished after a nice flick from Guillame Keke.

The result was put beyond four minutes before the break when Thomas Robinson completed his brace, finishing a flowing move.

Maguire likewise added a second goal, five minutes into the second time, when he produced a deft flick from John Donnelly’s right-wing cross.

Larne: Flood, McGrandles, McClean, McMullan, Robinson, Donnelly (Todd 84), G. Gillan, Irvine, Stuart, Maguire (McCabe 64), Keke. Unused subs: McGonnell, McAlea, Stitt.

Wellington Rec: P. Morton, Todd, Rea (Magill 53), Nelson, Phillips (Z. McAllister 70), C. Morton, Waide, Moore, Hilditch, C. Cowie (Beggs 69), J. McAllister. Unused sub: Paisley.