Larne lose to Ards on opening day
The home side had the best of the early exchanges and went ahead on 11 minutes. A cross from the right broke to James Cully who fired across Chris Keenan into the net.
Larne picked themselves up and for the remainder of the half they were in control.
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Hide AdThey got back on level terms after 21 minutes. George Young played the ball wide to Andy Simms and his cross found Paul Maguire who found the net from close range.
Young went close to giving Larne the lead just before the break when he fired a well-struck shot just wide.
Ards began to dominate after the restart as the visitors struggled to play their flowing football.
Six minutes into the half they grabbed the winner when Cully got the better of Sammy Devine and set up Ross Arthurs to give Keenan no chance.
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Hide AdLarne went with two up front midway through the second half and substitute Craig Todd almost snatched a point in the final minute when he met a Simms corner but was denied by a fine save from Graham McKibben.
ARDS: McKibben, Hull, Pike, Spence, Nixon, McIlhagga, McMillan, Moffatt, Dougan, Arthurs. Subs: P. McDowell, K. McDowell, Cully, Kingsberry, Dougherty.
LARNE: Keenan, S. Todd, Lemon, Marsh, Wharry, Devine, Workman, Berry, Maguire, Young, Simms. Subs: C.Todd (Devine), McAllister (Young), Hanna (Workman), Moore, Gibbons.
Referee. I. McNally
Report by Paul Campbell