Carrick Rangers midfielder Kyle Cherry insists his side’s sole aim is to remain in the Danske Bank Premiership as we hit the business end of the season.

The Amber Army currently sit 10th in the standings with Warrenpoint Town and Portadown also looking to beat the drop.

However, Cherry, who is enjoying his second spell at the ‘Gers, is hopeful of helping the club retaining their top flight status for 2022/23.

“We’ve had a few poor results recently after making a strong start to the season,” he said.

“I’ve only played the last two games out of six due to COVID and an ankle injury, but I want to stay fit to help us climb the table and stay clear of Portadown and Warrenpoint Town.

“We know the importance of three points in this league, especially at this time of the season, so that’s our focus.

“The league is so competitive and teams are fighting for different objectives but we just have to take care of our own business.”

Cherry, who hails from Belfast, started his senior career at Glentoran before enjoying loan spells at Glenavon and Dundela.

“My first memories of playing football was at Shorts FC who were my local team and I always played two or three years up,” he recalled.

“From under-14 level on I was at Glentoran and I remember making my debut on the final day of the season against Crusaders with Jim O’Hanlon.

“Scott Young gave me my first professional contract and I remember playing four European games in a row around 2011 time and just having that taste of first-team football made me want more of it.

“The squad depth was crazy back then and I remember scoring in a League Cup semi-final and then not being named in the matchday squad for the final.

“Gary Hamilton got the Glenavon job in January 2012 and he promised me that I’d play every week if I went there on loan, which I did, and thankfully we were able to stay up that year.

“It was all change at The Oval at that point as Eddie Patterson took charge and he signed two or three central midfielders so I knew I was going to be down the pecking order.

“Despite a few of the senior pros telling me to sit tight and be patient as I’d play games, I was at that age where I knew I needed to be on the pitch and Mark Snodden took me to Dundela and they had just been promoted from Championship Two.

“I enjoyed my time there as we finished third in the Championship and won the Steel and Sons Cup.”

In 2014, Cherry would be on the move to east Antrim as Gary Haveron swooped to land his services after his release from The Oval.

That switch would prove to be a fruitful one as Cherry ended his first campaign with three winners’ medals, before moving onto Ards two years later.

“After being released by Glentoran, I was thankful to Gary Haveron and Carrick Rangers for giving me an opportunity,” he added.

“In our first year, we won the treble and got promoted to the top flight with players like Aaron Traynor, Aaron Smyth, Aaron Harmon and Miguel Chines.

“We were able to stay up in our first year back in the Premiership but I felt our Championship squad was arguably better than the team assembled for the top flight which I know is quite bizarre to say.

“Gary left Carrick and I decided to join Ards under Niall Currie and he was a great manager to play under as he was honest and got the best out of me.

“I think I won a Player of the Month award and was in good form with Glentoran interested in re-signing me but I didn’t want to continually be on the move.

“Colin Nixon replaced Niall as Ards manager and he was a gentleman and a pleasure to work under but unfortunately, he lost his job.

“We were struggling near the bottom of the table and Warren Feeney came in and he done everything he could to keep us up, but unfortunately we lost a relegation/promotion play-off against Carrick Rangers.”

As fate would have it, Cherry would re-join Carrick a few months later where he remains to this day.

At 28-years-old, the central midfielder acknowledged that he is one of the most experienced members of Stuart King’s squad.

“I have played under Niall Currie and Stuart King since coming back to Carrick and they are both great managers,” he continued.

“When I signed back, I struggled a bit with injuries but I was in good form just before COVID struck.

“Unfortunately,things didn’t work out for Niall and Stuart has come in and he’s a good manager and continually drives standards.

“My contract is up at the end of the season so I know I have to perform otherwise I won’t be here next season.

“I do think I help some of the young lads in the squad but I’m constantly learning from experienced players myself like Jim Ervin, Mark Surgenor and David Cushley which is great.”