Rangers have to settle for a point

CARRICK Rangers blew a chance to open up six-point gap at the top of the Championship when they were held to a scoreless draw by Ards at Dixon Park on Tuesday night.

The continued absence of 17-goal Anto Lagan was felt once more as the visitors failed to convert a host of golden opportunities against the North Down outfit, who were without eight first team regulars.

Stephen Small made one change from the side that lost three days earlier to Coleraine in the cup, with Paul McDowell leading the line.

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It wasn’t until the midpoint of the first-half that Carrick began to show the form that has them setting the pace. Paul Heatley had a close-range header stopped by Aaron Kerr in the Ards goal. Two minutes later Heatley steered a diving header wide from a promising position 12-yards from goal.

Rangers stepped up a gear after the restart but a gutsy Ards team refused to crack under the pressure. They received assistance from the woodwork when centre-half Davy McAlinden sent a thundering header against the post from just six-yards.

Hesitancy by Glenn Hand on the end of a promising ball by Heatley was enough to allow Kerr to make another important block in the 78th minute.

And, as Carrick became increasingly frustrated, Ards almost capitalised at the other end, first through Kingsberry and then Stephen Doyle whose late volley brought a fine reflex response from Paul McKane to secure a point.

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Ards: Kerr, Young, Spence, Pike, D Devine, Doyle, Kingsberry, S Devine, McKnight, Picking, Arthurs, Sub: Cully, McKee (gk).

Carrick Rangers: McKane, Prenter, Hogan, McClean, T Anderson, McAlinden, Hands, Deans, Heatley, P McDowell, Harmon. Subs: Stitt (gk), N Anderson (Deans H-T), Byrne, O’Neill (for Harmon 84), Rafferty.

Referee: Keith Halliday (Bangor).

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