Hughes hoping to line up Mexican clash

Football with a distinctly South American flavour could be the major attraction for Carrick Rangers supporters on Tuesday night, says Taylor’s Avenue boss Michael Hughes.

“I’m in talks right now to secure a game with the Mexico U19 international team which is coming over for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup competition,” said the Carrick manager.

“It would be great to see Carrick Rangers take on the Mexican team and I’m optimistic it can happen on July 17. Obviously we can’t play them at Taylor’s Avenue but we have plans to play them on a grass pitch in Greenisland if they agree to the friendly fixture.

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“In the meantime, we don’t have a pre-season game fixed for Saturday, but there is plenty for the supporters to savour that afternoon.

“We are bringing the players down and organising some football in mixed teams with supporters on the 3G pitch during what is essentially a family fun day.

“On Saturday past, Knockbreda were visitors to Carrick for a match on the 3G pitch and it ended 2-2, which perhaps was a bit unfair on the visitors who were the better team and really should have won.

“I think frustration was perhaps the word that best sums up the match from our point of view. It was frustrating for me because of the performance, while I think it’s fair to say the players were a bit frustrated by the pitch.

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“It’s a magnificent pitch, a great surface, but it was dry and that meant it was a bit sticky and the ball tends not to zip along as you would like it to when it’s like that.

“But Knockbreda were the better team, to be honest, and they knocked the ball about better than we did. Indeed, they had a couple of guys who would prove a great addition to our squad, if only they were available.”

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