Super Salley sinks the champions

He netted his first goal since joining Carrick Rangers on loan in January and set up another as his side edged out league leaders Crusaders 4-3.

The result keeps Salley’s parent club Linfield within five points of the Crues with seven games to go and helped Carrick leapfrog Ballinamallard into 10th place.

Carrick took an early lead when Kelly steered past Sean O’Neill and on the half-hour Salley stunned visiting fans when he slammed in his first goal for Carrick.

Rangers were in dreamland on 36 minutes when Salley turned provider, showing a clean pair of heels to Colin Coates before teeing up Harmon who fired in from close range.

The Crues pulled one back on 56 minutes when sub Carvill headed home and there was just a goal in it after Heatley pounced on a poor goal kick from Neeson before racing through to finish on 77 minutes.

But in a rare second-half attack, Carrick frontman Roy found himself one-on-one with O’Neill and he kept his cool to net number four.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men when Robinson and Harmon saw red, while Haveron also walked. Smyth’s own goal was scant consolation for the Crues.