Larne beginning to ‘come to the boil’, believes coach Gary Haveron ahead of Linfield clash

Linfield will provide ‘toughest test yet’ for high-flying Inver Park men

Tiernan Lynch insists the Blues are ‘a different beast’ to teams Larne have faced so far

Larne are beginning to ‘come to the boil’ as they prepare to face their toughest test of the season so far against Linfield at Windsor Park on Friday night.

That is the view of Inver Park assistant manager Gary Haveron, who believes the Blues will pose a different challenge to the teams Larne have faced in their opening five Danske Bank Premiership fixtures.

Tiernan Lynch, who scored a stunning goal in Larne’s 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town on Tuesday night, agrees with his coach, saying Linfield will be ‘a different beast’ to the teams Larne have faced so far this season.

Haveron said: “We are beginning to come to the boil now. We played a few friendlies and then had a tough start to the season with the Champions League qualifiers.

“We have played a lot of games in a short space of time and we are probably only getting to a place now where we can start to train a little bit more and get some rhythm into our play.

“We are playing a lot of games in a short space of time and we are probably only getting to a place now where we can start to train a little bit more and get some rhythm into our play.

“Friday night will be our toughest test yet. Linfield are a big club with a lot of quality players. They will be a different beast to the teams we have faced so far.

“But we are confident in our own ability. We have a good squad and we are starting to gel as a team. We know it will be a tough game, but we are going there to win.”

Lynch added: “Linfield are the reigning champions and they have a lot of quality players. They will be a different beast to the teams we have faced so far this season.

“But we are not going to Windsor Park to make up the numbers. We are going there to win the game. We have a good squad and we are confident in our own ability.

“It will be a tough game, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Larne will be without the suspended Lee Lynch for the trip to Windsor Park. The defender was sent off in the win over Warrenpoint Town.

Haveron said: “It is a blow to lose Lee for the Linfield game. He is a big player for us. But we have a good squad and we have players who can come in and do a job.

“We will miss Lee, but we are confident that we can get a result without him.”