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Last year’s Irish Cup finalists met again tonight in the sixth round of the Irish Cup but to the disappointment of Linfield, it brought a different outcome as the Blues were knocked out by a double from Larne’s Lee Bonis.

Tiernan Lynch’s men had a passionate penalty appeal waved away after around ten minutes when Matthew Clarke went to ground to challenge Ben Doherty who was bursting into the box, with the latter hitting the deck, but the referee waved play on.

Larne went ahead after 13 minutes. The Blues afforded attacker Andy Scott too much time and space to strike a wicked shot from 20 yards which swerved in front of Chris Johns who saved before big money signing Lee Bonis fired in the rebound.

The Blues almost levelled a few minutes later when Kirk Millar burst away on the counter attack down the right side and his square ball was perfect for opposite winger Ahmed Salam to run onto, but his effort from the edge of the box struck the post.

Chris Johns was faced with another awkward shot when David McDaid reversed a pass into Lee Bonis on the edge of the box but this time when Johns beat away the swerving effort his teammates were able to mop up the danger.

Larne goalkeeper Conor Devlin then denied the Blues with a great reflex save. Niall Quinn won the second ball from a Linfield corner and his header was heading in under the crossbar had Devlin not managed to get a hand to it.

Lee Bonis almost had Larne two up before the break when he latched onto a clipped ball over the top of the Linfield defence and he fired a left-footed strike inches past the far post.

The final chance of an eventful first half was Linfield’s when Stephen Fallon passed to Christy Manzinga who cut inside the box onto his left foot before his bobbling shot was well judged by Devlin.

Half Time: Larne 1-0 Linfield

On the hour-mark it took to brave defending from Jimmy Callacher to keep it 1-0. David McDaid led a Larne counter, beating a couple of players before slipping it to Ben Doherty to his right and the winger’s fierce strike was travelling when Callacher put his head in the way.

David Healy made a triple substitution fairly early in the second half, switching to an attacking 4-4-2 with Christy Manzinga moving out left and Chris McKee and Ethan Devine leading the line. It brought more intent, but the Blues still couldn’t trouble the Larne goalkeeper and to much frustration just couldn’t seem to click in attack again.

Johns then forced into a good save to deny Lee Bonis who had time and space to line up a shot from the edge of the box after the Blues were caught playing from the back.

Bonis threatened again on 78 minutes, this time from a well-struck 20 yard free-kick which whistled just wide of the post.

Bonis did then get his and Larne’s second goal on 83 minutes when he nipped in on a backpass which sold Chris Johns short and the striker rounded the ‘keeper to tap into an empty net. Ultimately, that sealed Larne’s passage to the next round.

Full Time: Larne 2 – 0 Linfield

Match Images

1. David Healy - delighted to welcome Michel Parker