Carrick draw with leaders Ards

Ross Arthurs gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half when he sprung the offside trap and netted past Simon Steele. Nathan McConnell levelled matters with 15 minutes to go, landing his fourth goal in three games.

Speaking to the Times after the match, Rangers boss Michael Hughes said: “A draw was probably a fair result overall, but we didn’t play. We didn’t turn up today; we didn’t start. We didn’t get the ball down and we didn’t pass it around as we have been doing. We are disappointed with that, but, also, we have to be happy that we got something out of it in the end.”

Rangers made two changes to the team which had defeated Warrenpoint Town seven days ago. New recruit Gary Borrowdale was handed his first start in place of Jonny Addis who dropped to the bench. Aaron Harmon was preferred to Dean Carlyle.

The best of the first-half chances fell to Ards’ Craig McMillen who rattled the post early on, before McConnell, with a free run on goal, had a shot well saved by Graeme McKibbin.

After the break the deadlock was eventually broken with 69 minutes on the clock when Arthurs left the Carrick rearguard standing to run in and confidently slot home.

Former Ards man McConnell then got on the end of an Anto Lagan header to fire in the equaliser from close range.

Carrick Rangers: Steele, McCloskey, Lagan, Borrowdale, Colligan, Davidson, Haveron (c), Harkin (Carlyle 54’), Harmon, McConnell, Friars (Kelly 75’). Subs not used: Robinson, Harris, Addis.

Ards: McKibbin, Hall, Spence (Nixon 12’), Cully, Moffatt, McMillen (Browne 67’),Smyth (c), Arthurs, K. McDowell, P. McDowell (Burrows 61’), Dougan. Subs not used: McIlhagga, Cockroft.

Referee: Colin Burns (Comber).

Full match report and reaction in this week’s Times