IRISH LEAGUE: Carrick take valuable points at Ballinamallard

Ten man Carrick Rangers put in a brilliant second half to secure three vital points at Ferney Park this afternoon.

The win eases Rangers relegation problems and draws them closer to the Fermanagh side.

The visitors went a goal up after only eight minutes when Chines whipped free kick was headed into his own net by midfielder Johnny Lafferty, under pressure at the back post.

But 10 minutes later the Ferney Park side were back on level terms. A Jason McCartney free kick saw James McKenna rise above everyone to head home.

The Mallards could so easily have taken the lead when Lafferty’s excellent ball saw Michael’s McCrudden almost nick the ball home on 24 minutes.

Currie too went close in Ballinamallard’s best spell of the game. His stinging effort from the edge of the penalty box was just inches wide.

Just before the break things changed when Conor McCloskey was red carded after an altercation with McKenna on the half way line.

Down to ten men in the second half, Carrick showed their intentions right from the off with Harmon fizzing a great effort just wide of the near post.

McCartney went closest when he was put through by McKenna. His effort from 20 yards had keeper Neeson beaten, but came back off the base of the post.

On the hour Chines cheeky chip almost beat Rouse, but the Mallard keeper did superbly well to tip over the bar, while at the other end McCartney’s similar effort was inches over the top also.

Then Carrick scored the all important winner.

Aaron Traynor went on a brilliant run down the left flank and broke through three Ballinamallard tackles before unleashing a low drive into the far bottom corner.

Carrick manager Gary Haveron was delighted with his side saying it was a massive result.

He admitted that the red card for McCloskey put pressure on his side, but to a man they were excellent and worked hard to win the game.

“Traynor tookk his goal really well. He gets into those positions regularly and it was nice to see him finish one of those off.”

Ballinamallard United: Rouse, McMenamin, McLaughlin, Martin, McKenna, Lafferty (Lecky 74), McCartney, Currie (Courtney 79), McCrudden (Campbell 79), Friars, Elliott

Subs: Feeney, Beacom, Lecky, Campbell, Courtney

Carrick Rangers: Neeson, Traynor, Surgenor, Taggart, Harmon, Cherry, Chines, McCloskey, Johnston, McCaul, Kelly (McNeill 77)

Subs: Kane, Brown, McNeill, Dick, Roy

Referee

Ian McNabb