McConnell: We have to be ready to rock against Ards

McConnell netted the winner in the 2-1 victory over Warrenpoint last Saturday, helping Michael Hughes’ men climb to eighth spot in the table.

Sean Friars put Carrick in front with a first-half penalty, before Marcus McKeown’s speculative cross-shot levelled matters on 77 minutes.

McConnell had the last word with an 85th-minute header making it back-to-back league wins.

“It’s always nice to score but I think the team deserved to come away with a victory no matter who got the winner,” McConnell told the Times.

“In the first-half I thought we were brilliant and we maybe took our foot off the pedal in the second-half before stepping it up again in the last 15 minutes.

“When you’re a striker you always want to be involved in the action, but I’m just happy enough to get the win.”

The big centre-forward was among a string of new faces through the door in January, and he says the new-look team is gelling quickly.

“I think the main thing is that all the lads seem to be getting on really well. There’s really good banter in the changing room and I know loads of the boys. I think when you get on well, it’s easier to gel together.

“From a football point of view we are clicking at the moment but we have to keep working. Our training has been absolutely fantastic and I think that’s probably why we are clicking. “Michael’s sessions have been superb. He’s putting us through lots of small-sided games and lots of drills and it’s working well.”

As a former Ards player, McConnell warned this weekend’s game will be a big test for the men in Amber and Black.

“Niall Currie is a good manager and he gets his team up for games, so they will be at us from the word go. We have to make sure we are ready to rock again. We have started really quickly in our last two games and Ards will be a real good battle.”