McAlinden upbeat about Gers’ survival bid after sinking Swifts

CARRICK Rangers boss David McAlinden says his side have been “buoyed” after Julien Anau’s second minute strike secured a 1-0 win over Dungannon Swifts.

The Frenchman was on hand to tap in Darren Henderson’s cross to close the gap between Carrick and Warrenpoint Town to four points.

“We’ve got eight games to go and we’ve been buoyed by tonight,” said McAlinden (right). “It would have been better to get a second goal but I’m not going to worry about that now.”

The start proved to be a false dawn, Anau’s early finish providing hope that this could be a high-scoring encounter.

Instead the game saw opportunities come at a premium, with the visitors seeing a half chance fall to Ryan Mayse, only for keeper Harry Doherty to make the stop.

The Swifts’ best look at a leveller came in the first half as David Armstrong saw Henderson clear his goalbound header off the line before Daniel Hughes’ lobbed effort rebounded off the bar.

After the interval, the proceedings didn’t improve much as both sides played a safe contest.

Lee Chapman fired wide from 20 yards on the hour mark as Carrick threatened, before Mark Edgar rattled the frame with a well-struck free kick two minutes later, but the hosts were able to see out the win in comfort. CARRICK RANGERS: Doherty, Larmour, McNally, McNulty, Edgar, Chapman, Nimick (Taggart, 38 mins), Kottoy, Anau, J Smith (Gage, 87 mins), Henderson.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Addis, Hegarty (Teggart, 30 mins), Wilson, Armstrong, Mayse, McElroy, O’Rourke, Lowe, Burke, Hughes, Hutchinson.

Referee: Ray Hetherington (Dungannon) Man of the match: 4/10

Match rating: Julien Anau