RANGERS HAVE TOO MUCH FOR SKY BLUES

Carrick Rangers hit two goals without reply past Ballymena United to collect an important three points at The Showgrounds.

The Sky Blues created the first effort of note with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock when Donal Rocks made his way down the right flank before pulling the ball back for Fraser Taylor but his right-foot shot went well over the bar.

But the deadlock was broken in favour of the visitors on 28 minutes when David Cushley fired home from the spot after Scot Whiteside was adjudged to have handled in the area.

And Carrick almost doubled their advantage late in the first half after a poor back header from Caleb Crawford was pounced on by Danny Purkis but he could only lift the ball over the top with the goal at his mercy.

Stuart King's side came close to adding to their lead again early in the second half after Curtis Allen found space in the area but his low shot was kept out by Sean O'Neill's low dive.

Carrick continued to look the more likely to find the net again with Purkis testing O'Neill from around 25 yards out, while another attempt from a similar distance soon after tricked wide of an upright.

As time ticked away Ballymena pushed hard for the equaliser and almost grabbed it with just over ten minutes to go when Isaac Westendorf found himself one-on-one with Ross Glendinning only for the Carrick keeper to prevent the ball from going over the line.

Then, with three minutes remaining, Jonathan McMurray had a chance to level only to head over from a free-kick delivered into the area.

But the visitors made sure of the points deep into stoppage time when Purkis latched onto a Glendinning goal kick to get past the home defence and slot the ball past O'Neill.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Nelson, Rocks, Whiteside, McCullough, F. Taylor, McGrory, Crawford, Boyle, Place, Westendorf subs Johnston, Waide, Murray, D. Taylor, McMurray, McAuley, Stewart

Carrick Rangers: Glendinning, Stewart, Watson, Gordon, Cushley, Allen, Maciulaitis, MacKinnon, Crowe, Purkis, Tilney subs McCauley, Surgenor, Mills, Buchanan-Rolleston, Montgomery, Andrews, Withers