CARRICK KEEP TOP SIX HOPES ALIVE
Carrick Rangers kept their hopes of securing a top six finish alive with victory over struggling Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.
The visitors moved in front just before the half-hour mark after a David Cushley effort was deflected into the path of James Teelan who responded with a superbly struck volley into the top corner from the edge of the box.
The Sky Blues attempted to claw their way back into the game with a couple of decent opportunities after the break, with Fraser Taylor forcing Ross Glendinning to gather at the second attempt while Sean Brown then produced a good diving save from the Carrick keeper.
Carrick had the ball in the net again midway through the second half but Lewis MacKinnon's finish from a corner was disallowed following a foul on Sean O'Neill.
But Stuart King's side did double their advantage with two minutes remaining when the United keeper spilled another Cushley effort allowing Nedas Maciulaitis to follow up with the rebound.
Ballymena United: O’Neill, Taylor, McGrory, Tennant, Boyle, Brown, Place, Robinson, Barr, McCurry, McCallion subs Johnston, Gawne, Taylor, McMurray, McAuley, Mallon, Hood
Carrick Rangers: Glendinning, Stewart, Watson, Cushley, Mitchell, Maciulaitis, MacKinnon, Buchanan-Rolleston, Crowe, Gibson, Teelan subs McCauley, Gordon, McGuckin, Allen, Cherry, Withers, Tilney
Substitution 
Substitution 
