Larne edged Dungannon Swifts 1-0 in Gary Haveron’s first league game in charge at Stangmore Park.
Mark Randall scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute when his low effort beat Patrick Solis Grogan.
Chances were at a premium, but both sides were denied by the woodwork in quick succession in the second half.
The result means that the Inver Reds are now 22 points behind league leaders Linfield with six games in hand.
A quiet first half
The home side had a good chance to grab an early goal in the first minute of the game with Leo Alves’ looping free-kick dipping narrowly over the crossbar with Andrew Mitchell also sending an effort just wide minutes later.
Andy Ryan then tried his luck from outside the box, but his effort was wide of the left-hand post.
Both sides continued to struggle to test the two goalkeepers with Mitchell the next to fire wide after clever build-up play.
As the opening 45 minutes drew to a close, John McGovern headed Steven Scott’s cross from the right the wrong side of the post.
Larne make bright start to second half
Haveron’s side broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Dungannon failed to clear Ryan’s delivery from the left wing with Randall able to control the loose ball and slot home from close range.
Shortly after, a James Knowles free-kick pinged off the outside of the post and Ryan then saw his low effort denied by the left-hand post as both teams upped the tempo.
However, that was short-lived as the game returned to a slower pace like in the first half, with McGovern’s strike easily thwarted by Rohan Ferguson.
Dungannon continued to push for an equaliser, but the Larne defence were able to clear any danger created.
Adam Glenny had a huge chance with the last kick of the game when his strike from 25-yards flashed across the face of goal, to the frustration of the home fans.
