RANGERS MAKE IT TWO ON THE BOUNCE
Carrick Rangers defeated Ballymena United at the Loughview Leisure Arena to move level with the Sky Blues on points in the tussle for seventh place.
After exchanging half chances early on, the deadlock might have been broken when Jordan Gibson saw a powerful strike tipped onto the crossbar by Ross Glendinning.
However, what proved to be the only goal of the game came just before the half hour mark when Nedas Maciulaitis fired past Sean O'Neill from inside a crowded area.
Ben Tilney might have added a second just before the break only to fire just wide of the left post.
United might have levelled early in the second half when Ross Redman sent over a free-kick to the back post but Gibson just failed to direct his effort on goal.
Mikey Place was then denied by a timely Jim Ervin clearance while Gibson saw a later close range header kept out by Glendinning.
Tilney had another chance to double the home advantage but his 20-yard drive went just over.
Carrick Rangers: Ross Glendinning, Forsythe, Ervin, Gordon, Cushley, Mitchell, McGuckin, Reece Glendinning, Maciulaitis, Tilney, Anderson subs Hogg, Surgenor, Gawne, Kalla, Buchanan-Rolleston, Dupree, McLaughlin
Ballymena United: O’Neill, Nelson, Redman, Wilson, Whiteside, Kelly, Waide, McCullough, Henderson, Gibson, Place subs Thompson, Kane, McGrory, Tipton, Taylor, Tennant, Farquhar
Substitution 
Substitution 
