Gibson hat-trick sinks Ballyclare

Jody Lynch on the ball for Carrick in Tuesday night's 4-2 win over Ballyclare Comrades.

Midfielder Aaron Harmon doubled Carrick’s advantage with 27 minutes on the clock, finding the net with a low shot from just inside the box.

Gibson put Carrick on easy street 10 minutes before the break, heading Curran’s free-kick past Paddy Flood.

Ballyclare emerged for the second half showing more purpose in their play and were rewarded when Andrew Doyle found the bottom corner on 63 minutes.

But moments later Carrick hit back in style when Gibson, in acres of space down the left, arrowed a delightful shot across goal and into the bottom corner.

Ballyclare didn’t give up the fight and it was another sub, Chris Getty, who capitalised on a loose ball to pull another one back on 68 minutes. Getty netted just seconds after he had come off the bench.

Ballyclare were reduced to 10 men late in the game when Kyle Buckley was sent off for a last-ditch foul.

Carrick Rangers Deane, Smyth, O’Rourke, O’Kane, Taggart, Curran, Lynch, Harmon, Burns, Gibson, Davidson. Subs: Subs not used: Steele, McConnell.

Ballyclare: Flood, Monteith, Doyle, Harkness, Buckley, Agnew (Cooper), McCart, McAlea, Simms (Smith), R Higgins (Getty), Trussell. Subs not used: Forsythe, Doherty.