Brilliant Newry City effort falls just short after late Larne comeback

It was heartbreak for Newry City at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening, as they let a late lead slip against reigning Premiership champions Larne, losing 2-1.

Summer signing Adam Salley continued his fine run of form by putting Gary Boyle's side ahead on 56 minutes, but it was super-sub Joseph Thomson who was to be the star of the show, as he netted twice in the final 12 minutes of the game to see the heavy favourites steal the three points.

The Halloween fireworks lit up the Saturday night sky, but there were few fireworks on the field of play in the first half. That suited Newry down to a tee, as despite Larne having the lion's share of possession, they were unable to create any real clear cut chances.

In the opening period, the closest that the visitors came to finding the net was when Lee Bonis pressed Steven Maguire and blocked his clearance. The loose ball headed towards the by-line and although Bonis was able to fashion a shot, the angle was much too tight and his attempt went over the bar.

Newry started the game with four attacking players in their starting 11: Daniel Hughes, John McGovern (who made his first league start since April), Adam Salley and Lorcan Forde. However, they too struggled to create a clear cut chance, with their closest attempts seeing Salley fire over from outside the box, and Hughes have a half-volley attempt saved and held by Rohan Ferguson.

The game and the Showgrounds crowd burst into life on 56 minutes, when the Larne defence switched off, and a 40 yard pass from Barney McKeown found Salley, who controlled superbly before dispatching a composed finish low past Ferguson to put the home side ahead.

Salley almost had another a minute later, when his direct run against Levi Ives concluded with a left-footed shot, but his weak effort was gathered by the Larne goalkeeper. At the other end, Leroy Millar almost equalised with a curled effort, but it drifted inches wide of the far post.

Larne's Bonis had the ball in the back of the Newry net moments later, but it was ruled out for offside, before the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

On 73 minutes, an off the ball altercation between Hughes and Ilijah Paul Gindiri led to the Larne man throwing the ball into Hughes' face, and he was shown a straight red card.

Newry came inches away from making it 2-0, when a dangerous cross by Hughes just missed Adam Carroll, before the home crowd held it's breath when a direct ball from Mark Randall found Millar.

He nodded just wide with his chance, but moments later Newry were punished when a Tomas Cosgrove cross was headed by Bonis and thumped home by Thomson to level matters on 79 minutes.

Six minutes later it was another Cosgrove cross which led to Larne taking the lead, as he picked out Thomson with a low ball, and the second half substitute buried his effort into the roof of the net to break Newry's hearts.