Promotion still possible, says Carrick boss Haveron

But the manager, Gary Haveron, still believes promotion is possible and he is putting his trust in the players to deliver a big finish to the programme.

Rangers are level at the top with Institute, but occupying second spot because of an inferior goal difference. However, the Drumahoe club have also played a game less. And it gets more worrying when you look further down, Dundela a point behind – but with three games fewer played than Carrick.

Bangor, who are three points off the pace, also have three games in hand over Carrick, while fifth-placed Knockbreda may be seven points behind the leaders but actually have only played 15 games compared to Carrick’s 19.

“If I’m being realistic, I would have to confess that we have slipped up badly and it doesn’t look great for us right now,” Haveron admitted. “But this is football and we know anything can happen and a few wins can suddenly change the picture back again.”

“The Loughgall defeat was a serious blow. That was a match we should have won and then, while we won against Limavady, the three points came at a heavy price because red cards cost us the services of Conor McCloskey and Ben Roy against Dundela.

“But we are where we are and it’s a fact that sometimes a situation like this takes the shackles off players. I believe in my players and we are certainly not out of the chase just yet. Now we need to get back to stamping our authority on games and winning them as we should do.

“I believe the burden of title expectation has now been lifted and the players will be more free to go out and express themselves and we can afford to be a bit more cavalier in our approach. That may make us prone to conceding goals on the break, but that’s something we will have to cope with.

“Draws are no use to us, we need the points to be coming three at a time. So we might as well go all guns blazing for three points because anything less is useless.”

“And this weekend a win over Coagh United is imperative. But it won’t be easily achieved because they have improved, with a few imports from Coleraine Reserves. We met them twice already, beating them six in the opening game of the season and then drawing 2-2 in the Irish Cup before getting over the line in extra time.

“And they showed their improvement again on Saturday when Institute only got the better of them in a penalty shoot-out. But it’s a must-win and we will go out with that in mind, albeit without Ben Roy who has had an additional two match ban added. That is sickening because he did not deserve to be sent off in Limavady,” added a disgruntled Haveron.