Carrick Rangers 0 Dundela 1

A solitary Owain Beggs strike saw Dundela edge to a 1-0 win over Carrick at Inver Park this afternoon.

And with Institute taking a big three points to go top after a 2-1 win over Distillery, it means the Gers drop to second place in the table. Suddenly, it’s all very tight at the top of Championship 1.

There really was little to choose between the two teams but Beggs, who had three times been denied by the excellent Simon Steele, proved to be the difference.

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His 75th-minute goal sparked jubilant scenes in the away dugout and those feelings were mirrored at the end as his manager, Mark Snodden, punched the air in delight.

Carrick had the best of the opening exchanges with Daniel Kelly and David Bell spurning strong chances to open the scoring. Kelly blazed over from the edge of the area, while Bell fired wide from close range.

The home side really should have broken the deadlock on 22 minutes but some last-ditch defending kept them at bay. Aaron Smyth’s 20-yard shot was saved by McKay but only into the path of the unmarked Kelly. He did everything right, getting his shot on target from a diminishing angle, but his effort was cleared off the line by ex-Carrick defender Kyle Owens.

On 29 minutes Steele produced a top-class stop to deny Beggs who had been set through by the impressive Daniel Burns.

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Both teams had a couple of half-chances before the break with Ciaran Donaghy sending one wide before Owens headed over for the Duns.

After a thoroughly uninspiring opening 20 minutes of the second session, Carrick’s Richard Gibson carved out the first half-chance, but his tame attempt failed to trouble Steven McKay.

The Gers had Steele to thank yet again on 69 minutes when he made a confident double-save to thwart Beggs after a Dundela counter-attack had left the home defence exposed.

The game-changer came on 73 minutes when Beggs got his reward for a tireless display, finding the bottom corner with Steele wrong-footed.

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Carrick boss Haveron rolled the dice introducing Anthony Lagan, Adam Dick and later Graeme Arthur to the fray with Ryan McCann, Bell and Donaghy making way. But, as his side went in search of an equaliser, it left the play a little stretched.

With six minutes left on the clock, McKay preserved Dundela’s slim advantage when he got down well to save Dick’s shot which was struck hard and low from the left-had side of the area.

McKay was called upon again deep into time added on when he punched Aaron Harmon’s free-kick clear of danger.

Carrick Rangers: Steele, Smyth, O’Kane, Donaghy (Arthur 88), Taggart, Curran, Harmon, McCann (Lagan 77), Kelly, Gibson, Bell (Dick 77). Subs not used: McArdle, Arthur, Haveron.

Dundela: McKay, Collins, Murphy (Gilliland 86), Cherry, Owens, Ferguson, Irwin, McCain, Beggs, Halliday, Burns. Subs not used: McComb, Jackson, Gourley, Black.

Referee: Evan Boyce (Ballygowan).

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