Hughes casts an eye over Newry City

“It was an opportunity which I couldn’t pass up to see two of our imminent opponents and it was an enjoyable game at Inver Park, Newry City deserving of their 3-1 win,” explained the Carrick Rangers manager.

“In the first half the teams were pretty much even, Larne looking pretty good and seeming to be on top as they took the lead. But Newry came out in the second half and passed the ball around nicely and played the sort of football that showed just why they were second in the table last season as they took control of the game.

“It was certainly very useful to see these teams in action and, while I left appreciating that we will need to be close to our best to get something from the Newry match, I thought Larne were pretty good as well and there really was very little between them for 45 minutes.

“In the second half Newry looked a very good footballing side, their midfield three very comfortable on the ball and able to supply a big guy up front who looks like he can do a bit of damage at times. But I identified a few areas where we might be able to expose them a wee bit.

Hughes’s men banked three points in a 2-1 win over nine-man Bangor on Tuesday night thanks to a Conor McCloskey penalty and a late winner from Jonny Addis. Now the boss wants a victory over City at Dixon Park, before taking on Killymoon Rangers in the IRN-BRU League Cup on Monday.

“We obviously want a home win to settle us into a groove but we’ll have to work hard to get it this weekend,” advised the manager.

“Obviously the League is our number-one priority and we want to win every game in all competitions, but I see these Cup competitions as an avenue to provide an opportunity for some guys to get a run-out in a competitive fixture to benefit them and also enable them to stake a claim for a regular starting place.

“We were there last year and, if I recall correctly, we led, they equalised and we ran out 5-1 winners, even though it never seemed like a 5-1 game if you catch my drift. They play on a 3G pitch but it’s small, so it’s a fair little test for us once again.”

Hughes has made no secret of the fact that he’s still keen to recruit a few players, but there’s still no news on that front and no indication as to the identity of his targets.

“We’re still looking and I’d want two, ideally three probably, but they have to be the right people and also have to fit into a wage structure. Most of the players are on the same sort of deal and it’s only fair that the new arrivals come on that basis, so we’ll see how things pan out in the next couple of weeks,” added the Carrick boss.