Football’s coming home ... but not just yet

That was the target date for the club’s IRN-BRU League Cup match with Crusaders - their first return to the playing pitch at Taylor’s Avenue after more than a year.

But an unforeseen hitch with a floodlight has scuppered the plan to play their first game back on the home pitch against the club which was Carrick’s Premiership landlord last term.

“We had a mishap with one of our floodlights. It got blown down in the high winds last week and we are trying to assess what, precisely, the damage is, but we are not yet sure what it is or how much it will cost to repair. It looks as though it could be expensive, but we are insured so it’s not so bad from the financial viewpoint,” explained Hughes.

“It is a wee bit disappointing alright but we are now targeting a return to Taylor’s Avenue on the first weekend of November,” revealed the manager, a day when they are at home to Dundela.

Carrick Rangers are certainly on a high at the moment, Hughes’ team slamming six goals past a useful Dergview side on Friday night. The performance was even more pleasing for the manager than the scoreline.

“It was a good result and what delighted me even more is that it was a very clinical display.

“We used our fitness to our advantage and we took some of our many chances very well. Six goals is a very satisfying haul, but it really could have been more.

“We were very professional and went about the job very impressively. And that was quite something but we’re talking here about a pretty good, Dergview team which will take points from a lot of good sides this season,” said Hughes.

There’s no match scheduled this weekend because Rangers are still awaiting to discover who their Steel and Sons Cup opponents are, that next outing on Tuesday at home to Crusaders in the League Cup a huge match for a Carrick team which is riding high at the moment.

Carrick played a 2-2 draw with Institute on the opening day and have won every tie since, scoring a further 23 times and conceding just five. It’s probably their best start to a season in more than a quarter of a century.

“They (Crusaders) are a very good side, brimming with quality players and nobody will be expecting too much from us against them.

“I know they are going through a bit of a lean patch at the moment, but that happens to all clubs, no matter how good they are or what level they participate at.

“They have many, many quality players and will get their form back sooner rather than later. In the meantime, they are at home to Glentoran on Saturday and we will go and have a look at them,” said Hughes.

Report by Kevin Hughes