More league misery ahead of the JJB Sports Irish Cup semi-final against Linfield as the Whites fell to their third defeat on the trot.

Whilst injuries meant the Whites were forced to shuffle the pack, an Aaron Black hat-trick gave Larne the edge over Glenavon at the foot of the table relegation fight. Both sides now have everything to play for in their respective last matches.

Larne created the chances from the start in what was at times a robust encounter, five Larne players were booked, and after Peter McCann had headed an effort of the Lisburn Distillery line, Larne went in front on 14 minutes.

David Wilton was sent rushing back to goal after Black had lobbed the ball over him from all off 35 yards, but the ball dipped under the bar and in.

Four minutes before the break the Whites levelled through Francis Murphy who fired home a superb drive from the edge of the box.But the lead was short-lived, Black flicking home a throw-in inside a minute.

The Whites had more of the play in the second half, but they couldn't get that final breakthrough inside the box.Murphy and Aaron Johnston both went close but Larne's defence held firm when it mattered.

Chasing the game was always going to leave space at the back, and when the Whites failed to apply the offside trap, Larne went forward and Andy Kilmartin conceded the penalty that saw Black complete his hat-trick on 79 minutes.

Game over and Whites' boss Paul Kirk now has to mull over his selection for Tuesday night's cup-final against Linfield.