The biggest night in the history of Larne Football Club ended in disappointment as Norwegian kingpins Molde proved too strong for Tiernan Lynch’s side in the Aker Stadion.
Captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem, forward Ola Brynhildsen and sub Frederik Ihler scored the second half goals in a routine win for the home team in a Conference League opener that also saw Larne substitute Conor McKendry sent off in the 90th minute.
In truth, Molde were just a cut above the Irish League champions. But while a 3-0 loss was not what the travelling Larne contingent desired, it did not detract from what was a magnificent occasion for the Co Antrim club.
Larne made their league phase debut under the shadows of the stunning Romsdalsalpane mountain-range that dominates the Molde skyline.
The view from the club’s Aker Stadion must rate as one of the most spectacular anywhere in Europe, with over 200 snow-capped mountains surrounding the picturesque Romsdalsfjord.
This is Larne’s Graceland. The match might have lasted just 90 minutes but it is the fruition of eight years of graft that followed property mogul Kenny Bruce’s purchase of the once beleaguered club.
It’s stating the blindingly obvious to say that Larne wouldn’t be in Molde without Bruce’s millions. But investment does not always lead to success. Thousands of right decisions, both on and off the field, have got Larne to this point.
It’s hard to believe the man that made so many of the decisions almost left for St Johnstone last week. But, after rejecting an offer from the Scottish club on Sunday, Tiernan Lynch’s laser focus immediately switched to this game.
Larne had just over 100 fans tucked behind the corner flag of the 11,000 seater arena but it was the travelling Inver Army that made all the noise, singing out the praises of the Larne boys from first kick to last.
For Molde, this match didn’t quite hold the same appeal. Less than 4,000 locals turned out for this less-than-glamorous European night, three thousand less than they pull for a League game. In fairness, the UEFA mandated early kick-off didn’t help the attendance.
Molde had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the eighth minute when winger Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik swept a dangerous low ball across the front of goal. It found forward Brynhildsen at the back post but, with the goal at his mercy, he pulled his wide of Rohan Ferguson’s post.
Larne defender Sam Todd collected a yellow card in the 17th minute for breaking up a Molde attack with a trip some 30 yards from goal. It left the defender walking on eggshells for almost 75 minutes.
Soon after, big defender Isak Amundsen found himself free at a corner kick but headed wide.
There was little doubt who Molde’s dangerman was. Former Manchester United youth product Wolff Eikrem oozed class at 34 years of age, spreading the ball wide and probing the Larne defence with clever passes.
One through ball split the Larne defence in the 25th minute, putting Brynhildsen through on goal. He skipped round Ferguson and steered the ball towards goal from a tight angle but the goalbound effort was cleared before it reached the unguarded net by the alert Shaun Want.
The cheeky Wolff Eikrem tried his luck in the 39th minute from a free-kick when he feigned to cross before whipping a low shot towards goal but Ferguson was alert to his wizardry, comfortably saving the effort.
Molde started the second half a renewed sense of purpose. With three minutes, Ferguson was forced to bat away a dangerous cross.
Larne had their first chance of the match in the 49th minute when the ball fell to Andy Ryan – the Scottish striker that the Invermen to the promised land with his Play-Off hat-trick – just outside the area. He scuffed the half-volley and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.
Within a minute, Molde finally cracked the Larne defence. Mads Enggård did well to chase down a lost cause down the right flank and cut the ball back into the path of Eikrem and the hometown hero made no mistake from 10 yards, riffling the ball high into Ferguson’s net, giving the Scottish goalkeeper no chance. It was a moment of incisive football from Erling Moe’s side.
Larne’s first shot on goal arrived on the hour mark when Sean Graham cut in from the right wing before curling a left-footed effort towards goal from the corner of the box, but Albert Posiadala held the shot with ease.
Molde had chances to extend their lead. First, Brynhildsen miscued from close range sending the bar well over the bar in the 63rd minute, before Ferguson made a sharp save from a tight angle five minutes later, denying Løvik.
Ferguson made another save in the 75th minute, palming a long-range effort from Eikrim over the crossbar.
Molde doubled their lead In the 78th minute when Brynhildsen finally found his shooting boots. George Marsh gifted the home side possession with a careless pass allowing the forward to charge at goal. Want and Cosgrove did their best to stop him, but their joint challenge saw the ball bounce back into Brynhildsen’s path and he accepted the gift and curled the ball home from inside the area.
Salt was added to the wound in stoppage time when McKendry received a straight red card for chopping down a Molde attacker in full flow and three minutes later Ihler added a third, steering the ball from close range as Larne wilted under intense Molde pressure.
Molde: Albert Posiadala; Isak Amundsen, Casper Øyvann, Anders Hagelskjær; Martin Linnes (Halldor Stenevik 44), Markus Kaasa (Mats Møller Dæhli 66), Mads Enggård, Emil Breivik (Kristian Eriksen 45), Mathias Fjørtoft Løvik; Ola Brynhildsen (Frederik Ihler 79), Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Eirik Hestad 79).
Subs not used: Sean McDermott, Valdemar Lund, Eirik Haugan, Sondre Granaas, Kristoffer Haugen, Gustav Nyheim, Niklas Ødegård.
Larne: Rohan Ferguson; Sam Todd, Tomas Cosgrove, Shaun Want; Sean Graham, Dylan Sloan (Matthew Lusty 86), George Marsh (Mark Randall 79), Joe Thomson, Jordan McEneff (Conor McKendry 79), Levi Ives; Andy Ryan (Benji Magee 86).
Subs not used: Joe Besant, Paul O’Neill, Joshua Seary, Cian Bolger.
Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia)
Match Rating: 5/10
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