Gers playing the waiting game

Carrick have five outstanding fixtures - games postponed because of bad weather - and Hughes felt there might have been scope to reschedule one of these for this Saturday. But they have been left kicking their heels.

“We are now unbeaten in three outings and we have been getting a bit of momentum going, so it would have been desirable to be able to build on that with a game this weekend. I’m not sure why it wouldn’t have been possible to fix one,” explained the manager.

“On the plus side, there are a few players with niggling injuries and they will now have a week extra to get back to par. On the minus side, the guys who are waiting very patiently to get their chance to stake a claim for a place in the team will now be a wee bit disappointed that they will maybe have to wait a while longer. But, injuries and suspensions will take their toll, so they will get their chance.

“I made a couple of changes on Saturday: Aaron Harmon came back in, while Jonny Addis who had two hard games during the previous few days. He, along with Daniel Kelly and Adam Clarke, played in the university tournament and Jonny had been complaining about a tight calf, and I didn’t want to risk injuries to the other pair. Indeed, Adam pulled a hamstring in training and was left off the bench.

“As for the match on Saturday, it was a decent game and a draw was perhaps a fair result overall. It was arguably a point won and, with other teams above us not doing so well, we can feel happy about that. But it was two points dropped from the perspective that I believe we didn’t play anywhere near to what we can and I believe we would have won had we done so.

“We showed character and bossed the last 15 minutes and had chances to secure all three points, so it was comforting to know that. But a win would have been such a boost for the club.

“Ards took the lead against the run of play, helped by a mistake on our behalf, and there was some good football played. We showed great character to come back, even though our creative players weren’t showing what’s expected from them.

“But sometimes you can only play as well as you are allowed and perhaps Ards stifled that creative ability we possess. So, I wouldn’t get too annoyed about that aspect of the match.

“There was a decent wee crowd, with a fair number of travelling fans, and I think they got value for money.”

He added: “We are still on an upward curve and will have learned a few things about ourselves from the clash with the league leaders, so I hope it’s a case of onwards and upwards for Carrick Rangers.”