McGookin’s late equaliser rescues a point for Larne

It was the visitors who started quickest in this game and within five minutes they were 2-0 up. Both goals arrived within of a minute of each other.

Larne were unable to deal with the pace of the Dungannon wingers and allowed their opponents too much time on the ball in the final third.

In response, they made a couple of adjustments and slowly started to find their feet in the game. The tactical switch saw Carla Blair get herself on the score sheet with a neat finish at the back post following great build-up play involving Leigh Snoddy and Angela McFall.

Almost straight away, Larne’s good work was undone as, again, they failed to deal with the Dungannon winger who teed up her team-mate to make it 3-1.

To their credit, the home side didn’t give up and shortly before half-time they made it 3-2 with a well-worked short corner as Leigh Snoddy slipped the ball to Anne Snoddy who smashed the ball home.

Larne started the second half much better and began to boss the possession with some lovely attacking hockey. It was this attacking play which led to their third and equalising goal.

The ball was played down the right before being fired across the circle where Teah Maguire controlled and finished past the helpless goalkeeper.

They continued to press for the winner but it was Dungannon who, against the run of play, made it 4-3 with 10 minutes remaining.

It was beginning to look as if it was going to be one of those days, but with just two minutes left Stacey McGookin popped up to rescue a deserved point.

With games against North Down and NICS left, Larne will be looking to cement third place with promotion to Junior 2 just out of reach this season.

Larne II: C. Morrow, J. WIlson, C. Blair, T. Martin (c), C. Greenwood, L. Booth, N. Kempton, A. Snoddy, A. McFall, L. Snoddy, S. McGookin, T. Maguire, L. Bell, J. Spence.