Down’s improved form continued with a comfortable 3-0 win over Larne last weekend.

The locals, who were missing a number of regulars, played well and could have scored a lot more goals once they seized control of the game.

Down were forced to start with Philip Brown in goals and he produced a number of great saves over the 70 minutes as he side warmed up for this weekend's home clash against Campbellians.

Mark Elliott wasted a chance to give the visitors the lead in the fifth minute while four minutes later Brown produced a great block to deny Alan Russell at the other end. Willie Price then set up Alasdair Duff but the latter's shot was blocked by Ryan Hamill.

Brown saved from a short corner in the 16th minute and four minutes later produced a double save. Gavin Ringland's penetrating run in the 22nd minute should have resulted in a goal, but his flick shot went past the wrong side of the post.

With the interval drawing near and neither side looking like scoring, Down produced their first goal. Stephen Ferguson's rasping shot was saved by Jason Worthington, but Adam McKee pounced to fire home the rebound.

The visitors had their tails up at the start of the second half, but Worthington was a man inspired, denying Ringland after a sweeping move involving James Erskine and Stephen Ferguson.

Three minutes after the restart Down scored their second goal of the game, killing off all hope of a Larne comeback.

Erskine was the architect of the goal and his precision pass picked out Elliott in the middle of the goal and his clinical finish was past Worthington before the 'keeper could move.

Seven minutes later the Larne 'keeper denied Elliott again and five minutes later Down skipper Jeremy McCready missed a glorious opportunity with the goal at his mercy.

Hamill then grazed the top of the Down crossbar with a drag flick from a short corner in the 50th minute, but it was his side's only real effort in the second period.

Down had moved into cruise control at this stage and McCready made up for the earlier miss in the 62nd minute when he scored after great work by Stephen Ferguson.

With a minute to go Erskine thought he had "scored" his first goal for the club but a defender cleared the ball just as it was about to cross the line.