It was another night of European agony for Tiernan Lynch and his battling Larne.
The Irish League champions fell to their third successive defeat in the UEFA Conference League – this time it was Swiss side St. Gallen who piled on the agony at a bouncing Windsor Park.
A late goal from Hugo Vandermersch twisted the knife once again on the Inver Park men, who took an early lead courtesy of a Abdoulaye Diaby own goal.
St Gallen skipper Lukas Görtler levelled before the break and a spirited second half showing from Larne looked like earning them their first point of the tournament, only for Vandermersch to have other ideas.
Following defeats by crack Norwegian team Molde and Shamrock Rovers, there was just no let-up for Lynch and his boys.
They now face difficult away ties against Olimpija in Slovenia and Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan before their European venture ends with a home outing against Belgian outfit Gent.
Larne may have written their names into the record books by becoming the first Irish League team to reach the group stages of any European tournament, but it has been a sobering experience – even though it’s been a financially rewarding venture.
St. Gallen were always going to provide the Irish League champions with a stern test, although their domestic form has been poor – they are without a win in their last six League outings and sit seventh in the table after 13 games.
However, they lost both their opening Conference League games, beaten 6-2 by Cercle Brugge before losing out 4-2 to crack Italian side Fiorentina.
Their fans made the journey from Switzerland in big numbers. Close on 2,000 proudly marched from the centre of Belfast to the ground before giving their heroes great vocal backing throughout an absorbing 90 minutes.
Incredibly, the Swiss team had the ball in the net after only two minutes when Kevin Csoboth produced a tidy finish at the back post, only for Maltese referee Ishmael Barbara to rule out the effort for an offside infringement.
But it was the home fans who were celebrating two minutes later. Jordan McEneff picked the pocket of Chima Okoroji and drilled in a low cross that was turned into his own net by Diaby.
Diaby then had a let-off when he bundled down Andy Ryan, who was on the chase of a loose ball. As he was the last defender, it may well have warranted a red card, but this time Mr Barbara waved play on.
St. Gallen, urged on by their fanatical fans, began to up the ante and Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson had to be alert on 14 minutes after Kevin Csoboth tried his luck with an audacious volley from the edge of the box.
Having surrendered possession, it was hardly surprising Larne duly caved in just on the half hour – and what a strike it was.
Defender Okoroji produced the most delicious of deliveries from the left and, when the ball reached the boot of strong running midfielder Görtler, there was only going to be one outcome.
His ferocious volley almost ripped out the netting at the Kop end of the ground, leaving Ferguson helpless and sending their army of supporters into a frenzy.
Looking dangerous in every foray forward, St. Gallen produced another eye-catching move three minutes prior to the break, with Okoroji drilling in a low cross for striker Willem Geubbels, whose shot was superbly blocked by the alert Sam Todd.
The visitors almost forged into the led just after the restart. Todd hauled down Geubbels 25 yards out and, when Chadrac Akolo fired in the free kick, Ferguson got down to save at the base of the post.
In what developed into a tame second half, Lynch decided to go for the win with 14 minutes remaining, replacing McEneff and Dylan Sloan with Matty Lusty and Sean Graham.
But it was the Swiss who grabbed the crucial second goal with only 11 minutes remaining.
Substitute Christian Witzig, who had just replaced Csoboth four minutes earlier, made a lighting break on the left before firing low across the box, which was converted by Vandermersch, despite a desperate attempt by defender Levi Ives to keep the ball out of the net.
Enrico Maassen’s boys had the ball in the net again when substitute Moustapha Cisse rounded Ferguson for a tap in only to be pulled up for offside.
It was another tough night at the European office for Larne.
LARNE: Ferguson; Seary, Todd, Bolger, Want (Magee 90), Ives; Gallagher (Donnelly 82), Thomson, Sloan (Graham 76); Ryan (Randall 82), McEneff (Lusty 76).
Subs not used: Besant, McKendry, O’Neill.
ST. GALLEN: Ati-Zigi; Vandermersch, Vallci, Diaby, Okoroji; Stevanovic; Görtler, Csoboth (Witzig 75); Toma (Konietzke 75); Geubbels (Faber 90), Akolo (Cisse 88).
Subs not used: Watkowiak, Muslija, Witzig, Cisse, Yannick, Faber, Ruiz, Konietzke.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara (Malta)
Man of the Match: Cian Bolger
Match rating: 7/10
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VAR is looking at it but Cisse appeared to be a mile offside from where I’m sitting. And the check comes back to confirm he was.
Larne commit too many men forward chasing a goal of their own and are caught on the break, Chadrac Akolo holding onto the ball well just inside the Larne half before setting new man on the pitch Corsin Konietzke racing down the left wing and all of a sudden the Swiss have numbers everywhere.
It could be one of two to finish it off, but it’s Vandermersch running in at the back to slam it into the roof of the net.
Fortunately Cian Bolger is sweeping in behind to usher it back to his goalkeeper but that was nearly a calamitous way for Larne to fall behind.
The referee blows for a handball by Csoboth anyway, but they didn’t know that. Superb defending from the pair.
The second half really hasn’t sparked into life yet.