Tomas Cosgrove’s second-half goal saw Larne finish their Uefa Conference League campaign on a high by securing a historic 1-0 win over Gent at Windsor Park.
Having lost their previous five matches in the league stage of the competition, the Irish Premiership champions defied their underdog tag to deservedly claim the scalp of their Belgian opponents and pick up their first points.
Cosgrove beat his marker and drilled home a low shot past goalkeeper Davy Roef in the 74th minute after Andy Ryan had flicked the ball into the path of Sean Graham, who provided the pinpoint delivery.
Having made history by becoming the first Irish League club to make the league or group stage of a major European competition, the victory marks another significant milestone for the east Antrim club and the Irish Premiership.
As well as the three points, Larne also collect the 400,000 euros on offer for clinching a win at the league stage and move off the bottom of the league, from 36th place to 34th.
The success comes against a backdrop of significant change for the Invermen as first long-serving manager Tiernan Lynch left his role midway through the campaign to take over as boss of Derry City, then his successor Nathan Rooney was last week replaced as head coach by his assistant Gary Haveron after the former Bruno’s Magpies chief was found not to possess the necessary Uefa Pro Licence to manage in European competition.
Gent drop to 17th in the league standings and now face an away fixture in the play-off stages in March.
Belgium
