CHAMPIONSHIP 1: Larne 1 Carrick Rangers 2

A last-gasp winner from substitute Adam Dick secured another three points for promotion-chasing Carrick Rangers in their derby game with Larne at a windswept Inver Park.
Larne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip ByrneLarne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip Byrne
Larne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip Byrne

The visitors had to come from behind to claim victory over the Reds who had Michael Smith dismissed for a second yellow late in the game.

Rangers boss Gary Haveron, who handed over the managerial reins to Glenn Taggart after the game, was delighted with the result.

“We have shown a lot of character again in what was a very difficult game,” he said. “The boys kept going to the end and as the wind was such a big factor I knew even going in one down we were still in with a chance.

Larne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip ByrneLarne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip Byrne
Larne's Ciaran Murray holds the ball up against Carrick's Conor McCloskey. INLT 13-010-PSB Photo: Phillip Byrne

“We didn’t kick on after we levelled but I was delighted to see the ball going in at the end, especially as Adam Dick hadn’t been well and came off the bench to snatch it.”

His opposite number, Davy McAlinden, was again left to rue missed chances. “We were hemming them in but didn’t take our chances. We needed a bigger cushion going into the second half as we knew the conditions would make it difficult.

“I have no complaints at all about the effort the players have put in; they have given me everything. We will have to pick ourselves up again and go again on Saturday.”

Playing with a strong wind at their backs the home side were in control in the first half. Paul Maguire missed a great chance to put Larne in front, heading Ciaran Murray’s cross just wide.

At the other end, ‘keeper John Connolly pulled off a great save to block a Miguel Chines shot.

Larne broke the deadlock six minutes before the interval. Murray showed a poacher’s instinct, nipping in between Ciaran Donaghy and Brian Neeson the poke the ball home.

The sides were level 11 minutes after the restart. Chines’ free-kick was parried by Connolly into the path of Aaron Traynor who made no mistake.

But after Smith’s dismissal it was backs to the wall for Larne.

Connolly made a fantastic save to turn away a Chines header but he couldn’t prevent Dick getting on the end of a right-wing cross to glance the ball into the net in the dying embers of the game.

Larne: Connolly, Scott, Bradley, Smith, Reynolds, McMullan, E. Gillan, Stuart (McCabe 87), Maguire, G. Gillan, Murray. Subs not used: Robinson, McGoran, Heggarty, Stitt

Carrick: Neeson, Smyth, Traynor, Donaghy (Watson 46), Arthur, Kelly, Harmon, Cherry (Dick 71), Chines (Lagan 90), Roy, McCloskey. Subs not used: Lynch, McConnell.

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