Scoring winning goal is ‘bittersweet’ for Roy

Carrick new boy Ben Roy played down his winning goal against Dundela, insisting he’s just happy to be back starting matches and finding the net.
Carrick's Ben Roy (right) with Dundela's Scott Collins. Photo: PresseyeCarrick's Ben Roy (right) with Dundela's Scott Collins. Photo: Presseye
Carrick's Ben Roy (right) with Dundela's Scott Collins. Photo: Presseye

Roy, on loan from Ards, didn’t celebrate when he scored an 87th-minute winner in Saturday’s Irish Cup win over his old club, saying he had mixed emotions as the ball hit nestled in the bottom corner.

“I spent a couple of years at Dundela and really enjoyed it so to score the winner was bittersweet. I’m just focusing on coming to Carrick, scoring a few goals and getting a bit of confidence up because I haven’t played that often in the last couple of months. I’m just delighted to get on the scoresheet,” he said.

The Duns were one up at the break thanks to Stephen McCain’s 38th-minute strike, but a Jody Lynch double put the Gers in front midway through the second session. Mark Snodden’s men levelled matters when Owain Beggs’s deflected shot dipped in under the bar, only for Roy to have the final say when he coolly netted the late winner.

“We just want to go out and win a few games,” said Roy. “Personally, I haven’t been on the winning side of a team since November so it was good to get that feeling back.”

He added: “I’m really enjoying it here at Carrick, the manager has been great to me. All the lads have been good and the fans have been very supportive so that’s made it easy enough to fit in.

“I’m living in Bangor but my parents live in Carrick so it’s good to get involved. I just want to play every game and score a few goals and show that I can still play football because maybe I didn’t play enough this season up to Christmas.”

With Taylor’s Avenue out of action, Saturday’s clash was switched to Inver Park and it was the Duns who were on the attack early with Beggs having two shots on target inside the opening 10 minutes.

Carrick striker Richard Gibson then turned towering centre-back Kyle Owens to lift a cross in for midfielder Conor McCloskey who blazed a presentable opportunity over the bar.

It was the Belfast side who broke the deadlock as McCain’s shot from the edge of the area made its way through a crowded goalmouth, evading everyone in sight.

Five minutes after the restart Lynch provided the spark Haveron was craving when he met Roy’s first-time cross with a left-foot volley, leaving Jonathan Sergeant with no chance.

Lynch was at it again on 64 minutes, meeting Aaron Harmon’s cross with a text-book downward header which squirmed under Sergeant and across the line.

Seven minutes later, however, Dundela were level through Beggs who got more than a slice of good fortune as his 20-yard shot took a deflection off McCloskey before looping past Gareth Deane.

As destiny would have it, the script was written for Roy. Dundela’s top scorer last season pounced three minutes from time, latching on to Gibson’s intelligent reverse pass to roll home the winner.

Carrick Rangers: Deane, West (Smyth 53), O’Kane, Donaghy, Lagan (Taggart 86), McCann, Harmon (c), McCloskey, Roy, Gibson, Lynch. Subs not used: Kelly, Curran, Burns.

Dundela: Sergeant, McCullough, Collins (Davison 88), Black, Owens, Gourley (c), Irwin (Halliday 80), McCain, McComb, Beggs, Jackson. Subs not used: Murphy, Gilliland, Ferguson.

Referee: Hugh Carvill.

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