LARNE secured the SBYL U16/17 First Division title, defeating second placed Cliftonville 2-1 on the final day of the season in a winner takes all clash.
Ahead of the game, Larne players were asked to leave everything on the pitch, and they did just that. Going about their work with an intensity from the first whistle, Cliftonville were pinned back and limited to very few chances and long-range efforts.
Larne took the lead after 20 minutes, Dee beating the opposition defence and firing a shot towards goal which ricocheted off the post before dropping to Alix who was first to react and place the ball past the goalkeeper.
Following a red card for Larne, Cliftonville equalised just before the break. A long-range effort from a free-kick 25 yards from goal found the top corner, leaving it all to play for in the second half with Larne a player down.
At half-time, Larne altered their personnel on the pitch and tactics to tighten up at the back and aim for a winning goal on the counter-attack. This plan worked to perfection and after 50 minutes of play, a well-worked move down the wing allowed Lucy to fire a great into the box towards Dee, who was in position to fire past the goalkeeper and give her team a vital lead.
Cliftonville didn’t give up without a fight which meant that the Inver Reds had to dig deep and battle hard to see the game out. Impressively, the girls managed to battle to the very last minute and fight for their league title, closing everything down and throwing their bodies on the line to ensure the score remained in their favour.
