Rangers remain on a roll

Doubles from Jonny Addis and Conor McCloskey, and a tap-in for substitute Adam Dick, gave the Gers another important three points, keeping their dream of a second-place finish - and a crack at the play-off - right on track.

It was one-way traffic all afternoon in front of a small crowd at Taylor’s Avenue, with Tobermore offering next to nothing in the final third. In fact, their first and only shot on target arrived in the 77th minute, meaning keeper Simon Steele didn’t have to break sweat to claim his fourth clean sheet in a row. In the heart of defence, Gary Borrowdale, the epitome of composure, was the laid back linchpin, sweeping up everything in sight alongside revitalised club stalwart Glenn Taggart.

And even without the influential duo of Lee Colligan and Nathan McConnell, Carrick were on easy street with three goals inside the opening 16 minutes.

McCloskey got them up and running just three minutes in, with what would prove to be pick of the five goals. His sweet 25-yard strike with the outside of his right foot left United stopper Marcin Farniok rooted to the spot.

And it was all over bar the shouting when Jonny Addis netted twice in the space of seven minutes, to take his personal tally to four in as many games since being given the nod to play up front in last month’s 6-0 drubbing of Larne.

His first was an instinctive turn and shot which he fired under the sprawling Farniok. And he followed that up with a delightful left-foot lob which bore all the hallmarks of a frontman brimming with confidence.

Tobermore’s only meaningful opportunity of the first session came from a free-kick but David McClements’ effort was high and wide of Steele’s near post.

On 37 minutes Addis should really have made sure he would be sticking a match ball up his shirt come the final whistle, but he blazed over from close range when it looked easier to score.

Dean Carlyle had two decent opportunities in the closing stages of the first half. Unmarked on the right hand-side of the box, he leapt like the proverbial salmon to get on the end of Adam Clarke’s cross, only to see his header flash wide of the far upright. A few moments later, he had another pop, but his fierce drive from the edge of the area was blocked bravely by Gary Donaldson.

There was more of the same in the second half with Carrick always looking the more likely of the two sides. It was only a matter of time before they scored again and, all too predictably, the home side made it four when Dick, on for Addis, scored the simplest of goals with a 67th-minute tap-in after a fine double-save from Farniok. The Polish net-minder had parried a stinging a long-range effort from the irrepressible Correy Davidson, before stopping Dick’s follow-up. But the former Larne man really couldn’t have missed when presented with a second bite of the cherry.

Such was the gulf between the two teams, Tobermore’s William Hassan produced his side’s only shot on target 12 minutes from time, but it was easily collected by Steele.

Rangers rounded off a straightforward day at the office when McCloskey converted an 80th-minute penalty, after Farniok was adjudged to have impeded Dick.

Carrick Rangers: Steele, McCloskey, Clarke, Haveron, Taggart, Borrowdale, Harmon (Harris), Carlyle, Lagan (Cash), Addis (Dick), Davidson. Subs not used: Friars, Robinson.

Tobermore United: Farniok, Steele, Winton, Donaldson, Neill (c), Gardner (Whiteside), McClements, Henry (Stewart), Lamont (Cochrane), Hassan, Forgrave.

Referee: Simon Creaney (Newtownards).