I won’t have to lift players for semi-final, insists Haveron

Haveron maintained the disappointment of Saturday’s 1-1 result at Lakeview Park was not in any way down to a poor performance from his men.

“I won’t have to work on picking them up because we played well enough to win with plenty to spare. We were by far the better team and the way they [Loughgall] celebrated at the final whistle indicated it was a massive achievement for them to get the draw,” he said.

“That they did so was down to an equalising goal from a player who was at least three yards offside. When I asked the referee about it, he said the last touch on ball before it went to him had been from a Carrick defender. But that is totally wrong and the error has cost us two valuable league points,” he insisted.

“We got off to a flying start, Kyle Cherry scoring after a couple of minutes and we went on to dominate the first half. And we were better in the second period as well, even though they changed things with the introduction of two subs and playing a bit higher up the pitch.

“Our downfall was the fact that we didn’t get the second goal, despite creating chance after chance. I don’t remember Brian Neeson having one save to make. Yet, we hit the post at least four times - maybe five - Conor McCloskey, Adam Dick and Kyle Cherry twice, all guilty of that.”

Haveron also felt his team should have had two spot-kicks. “Adam Dick very nearly had the shirt pulled off his back and Miguel Chines was also worthy of having a penalty awarded to him.

“So there was nothing wrong with how we played and I think it was quite a display on a pitch that is small and was very soft. Indeed, I am looking forward to the trip to Seaview and we know the surface will suit us much better.

“We have put a lot into the Steel Cup run and we will be doing all we can to reach the final, but Ards are a top, top side and we will have to bring our A-game to Shore Road if we are to reach the final.

“But I firmly believe this is a match we are well capable of winning and that’s the positive approach we will be going there with.

“Ben Roy is available again after sitting out last Saturday because he wasn’t 100 per cent, while one big positive from Loughgall was that Aidy Watson is back and he got half an hour match time.

“He will now be a terrific asset to us going forward,” added the optimistic Rangers boss.

By Kevin Hughes