AUDIO: Haveron on Carrick’s 3-1 win over Dergview

Both sides had to contend with the torrential rain at Inver Park where goals from Anthony Lagan, Ben Roy and a late header from substitute Graeme Arthur gave Rangers all three points. Adam Lecky provided the response for the visitors with a penalty early in the second session.

Carrick got off to a dream start with just four minutes on the clock when the unmarked Lagan volleyed home Damien Curran’s corner from just inside the area. The big centre-back won’t score a sweeter goal all season, and it set the tone for an attacking first-half display from the Gers.

Dergview offered precious little in the final third in the opening 45 as Carrick, playing some slick stuff at times, went in search of a second.

Daniel Kelly, given the nod in the starting 11 in place of top scorer Richard Gibson, saw his 25th-minute long-range shot tipped on to the bar by Alan Buchanan.

Gary Haveron’s men doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Roy, in space in a central position outside the box, found the net with a right-foot drive which zipped past Buchanan into the bottom right-hand corner.

Dergview pulled one back from the penalty spot nine minutes after the re-start; midfielder Lecky side-footing the ball to Simon Steele’s right after Aaron Arkinson was felled by Lagan.

Skipper Aaron Harmon missed a glorious opportunity to restore Carrick’s two-goal advantage when he skewed a close-range shot wide after doing all the hard work with a marauding run from the middle of the park.

But veteran Arthur rounded things off six minutes from time when he rose at the back post to nod home Curran’s corner.

Carrick: Steele - West, O’Kane, Donaghy, Lagan, Curran, Harmon, McCloskey (Bell 90), Roy, Kelly, Burns (Arthur 60). Subs not used: Taggart, McArdle, Gibson.

Dergview: Buchanan, Porter, Maxwell, Liggett, Robinson (c), Dickson (Kee 79), Arkinson, Lecky, Sproule (Fulton 26), Higginbotham (Cresswell 79), Wallace. Subs not used: Clarke.

Referee: Cecil Floyd (Belfast).