Haveron gives youth a chance in pre-season games

The build-up to the new season continues unabated at Taylor’s Avenue, matches and training combining to enable everyone at the club, youth players and experienced alike, to get in on the act.
New signing: Miguel Chines. Photo: Adam SimpsonNew signing: Miguel Chines. Photo: Adam Simpson
New signing: Miguel Chines. Photo: Adam Simpson

Carrick Rangers played no fewer than four games last week, and boss Gary Haveron admits they were fully stretched on Saturday.

“In hindsight, it was maybe too tall an order and I doubt if we will be doing it again. But we were attempting to oblige both Queen’s and Sport & Leisure by playing the two games and were determined not to let anybody down,” he said.

“But, for a variety of reasons including injury, we were without the services of a few players so we had to send two small squads to each game.

“I had to put on the boots again against Sport & Leisure, who are managed by my good friend from my Coleraine days, Pat McAllister. My assistant, Steven Mills, played against Queen’s.

“But, every time one door closes another one opens and it provided an opportunity for a lot of younger players to get an outing - with at least half-a-dozen in each match.

“On Tuesday we played Larne Tech and had a comfortable enough win, 8-1 the result. What was especially pleasing was a hat-trick for Miguel Chines.

“On Thursday we had another good run-out against Crumlin Star. We were 3-0 up and we had a lot of kids there we wanted to give a chance and we finished up with them getting about 40 minutes.

“Indeed, we ended up with eight players under 17 on the pitch and one of them had scored, Taylor Harris, as we held on to win the game 3-2.

“There was a debut for Neeson, the goalkeeper looking good after joining us on the completion of his commitment with the Antrim GAA team.

“There was also an impressive show from Danny Magill, the U19 Player of the Year for last season, and he can play equally as left-back, right-back or virtually anywhere on the pitch and he has been training with us since the very first session.

“So things are going very well and we’re looking forward to more of the same this Thursday (July 24) when we play Dunmurry Rec, Crusaders on Saturday and then Glentoran on Wednesday.”