However they might have led from as early as the fourth minute when Marty Hunter fired straight at Whites 'keeper Philip Matthews but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to break the deadlock following later efforts from Gary Browne and Andy Kilmartin.

And it was indeed the Whites who got their noses in front when, on 41 minutes, former Larne skipper Julian Ward dispatched a powerful header from a Michael Ferguson cross into the top corner.

Larne threatened after the break through first new signing John Lynch tested Matthews with a long range effort followed by a Hunter lob which sailed over.

Distillery might have secured victory 11 minutes from time when Andrew Waterworth beat Padraig Gollogley to a loose ball before rounding 'keeper Chris Keenan only for his subsequent shot to strike the upright.