Niall Currie’s Carrick frustration at loss in game ‘there for the taking’

Niall Currie called into question his players’ performance following frustration at Saturday’s missed opportunity from a meeting with Portadown the Carrick Rangers boss considered “there for the taking”.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Defeat for Carrick by 2-0 left Currie looking back on a display in which his players “were not brave with or without the ball”.

“We talk about performance more than anything and came in today off the back of a really good display on Tuesday,” said Currie. “But today, let’s be honest, we were dire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the first half, especially, we never got near Portadown - we were not brave with or without the ball.

Carrick Rangers boss Niall Currie. Pic by PressEye Ltd.Carrick Rangers boss Niall Currie. Pic by PressEye Ltd.
Carrick Rangers boss Niall Currie. Pic by PressEye Ltd.

“What disappointed me the most was the impression some felt today was a dead rubber game or end-of-season affair.

“You’re up and down this season, from the high place of Tuesday night to today and you can see the inconsistency across the league but the key word is performance.

“And I’ve seen it before this season, results will take care of themselves but we’ve not been able to string together five or six really good performances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I was disappointed today with that apathy in the first half...we were much better in the second half but it couldn’t have been much worse.

“Did we put a tackle in over the first half? I watched a Portadown player go past three Carrick players with mine basically hanging out a toe.

“Portadown had young players in the middle of the park up against our senior players.

“We didn’t impose ourselves...it’s okay having size but you must be aggressive and attack the ball in both boxes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“That game was there for the taking...if we get near our capabilities today we’ve a massive step for three points.

“And what better motivation do you need than three points to go ahead of Portadown and closer to Warrenpoint before we play each other?

“We don’t talk about how Portadown play, we focus on our own performance but that was missing and, even with that, that’s a game we should be coming away with at least something.”

Portadown took a first-half lead off Ben Tilney’s free-kick finish then doubled the advantage late on with a Lee Bonis header.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Goals change games too and if we had put our chances away then it’s a completely different situation, but that’s all ifs and buts,” said Currie. “Aaron Hogg had a couple of free-kicks to save but nothing else.

“Did we work their goalkeeper the same way? We had a couple of great chances but still didn’t work the goalkeeper bar a few saves.

“We got done today off two set-pieces - yet we must have had double or treble that number but still didn’t look like scoring at any stage.

“Great bit of quality from Ben Tilney and a great header from Lee Bonis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve three 6 foot 3 players to deal with a lad 5 foot 10...but we’ve conceded goals like that a lot and making the same mistakes too often.”

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you