Rangers will go again, says determined Haveron

Action from Carrick Rangers and Donegal Celtic at Taylor's Avenue. INCT 18-013-PSB

But Gers manager, Gary Haveron, is already working hard to achieve their goal for the next campaign.

“None of our players are signed up for next season but that’s normal and, even if they were signed, the commitment only lasts for seven days and then they can move to another club anyway.

“The only time they really are tied to a club is when they play their first competitive game,” explained Haveron.

“I’ll be speaking to everybody and will be hoping they all agree to stay and help us gain promotion next year and I am very confident that by the end of this week we will have most, if not all of them, on board again,” he assured.

When Ben Roy fired Carrick Rangers into the lead in the second half against Institute on Easter Tuesday, Carrick looked set to be guaranteed at least a play-off for promotion. But it didn’t happen and the Drumahoe men went on to win the match 2-1.

“It was bitterly, bitterly disappointing. The vast majority of people who were watching will tell you Carrick were the better team and Institute can put their victory, promotion and the title down to an amazing second-half performance from their goalkeeper.

“When Ben Roy broke the deadlock, it looked for all the world that we were going to go and win the game well.

“But Martin McCrudden then made a run down the wing and the ball fell kindly for him to blast the ball to the only place where he would beat Simon Steele.

“With a draw no good to us, we threw everything at them and, as can always happen, they hit us on the counter-attack and scored again.

“As much as the result went against us, the performance told me what I already knew - that we are at least every bit as good as Institute and Bangor and we deserved more from the season than we got.”

“Losing 4-3 to Donegal Celtic on Saturday was disappointing because we wanted to put on a show for the supporters.

“It may have been a dead rubber, but we were still keen to get a victory and the only reason we didn’t was that we conceded three sloppy goals.”