Newry are now all but doomed as Carrick cruise to an easy victory
NEWRY CITY 1
CARRICK RANGERS 3
NEWRY City are as good as relegated from the Premiership, following a chastening 3-1 loss at home to Carrick last night.
Whilst they’re not mathematically down yet, Newry need a minor miracle — and a helping hand from Dundela — if they are to stay in the top tier, as they are guaranteed to finish in 12th place.
Things started brightly for Newry, and they went a goal to the good with just two minutes on the clock when Adam Salley put Ciaran O’connor in behind the Carrick defence, and he directed a first-time shot into the bottom corner.
It took Carrick half an hour before they had their first chance of note, but when they took it, Newry began to unravel.
A Ben Tilney throw-in was flicked on by Daniel Gibson for Curtis Allen. He broke through the centre of the Newry defence far too easily and slotted a composed finish home. Carrick’s captain David Cushley had already showed his defensive prowess, blocking shots from Noel Healy and O’connor, before he began to orchestrate the midfield. Carrick went ahead on 37 minutes when Cushley put Gibson through on goal, and he was brought down by Conor Mitchell in the box. Cushley then confidently dispatched the resulting penalty to put the visitors ahead.
Things went from bad to worse for Newry in first half stoppage time, as Fra Mccaffrey was dismissed with a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Cushley, which meant that the Carrick midfielder had to be substituted at half-time. Then, Gibson gave Carrick a 3-1 lead before the break, with a shot that Mitchell allowed to squirm underneath his body and into the back of his net.
Carrick continued to press their advantage in the early stages of the second half, with James Teelan firing into the side netting, Gibson heading just wide and Allen being denied at point blank range by Mitchell when he had the goal at his mercy.
A man light, Newry were unable to fashion anything of note in the second half, and Carrick could have put the icing on the cake late on, but substitute Emmet Mcguckin and Gibson both hit the crossbar.
NEWRY CITY: Mitchell 5, King 5, Healy 5, Mcgivern 5, Mccaffrey 4, O’connor 7 (Carroll 59, 5), J Mcgovern 5 (Mcdonagh 59, 5, Salley 6 (P Mcgovern 79, 5), Forde 5 (Doyle 84, 5), O’brien 6, Poynton 5 (Bagnall 59, 5).
Unused subs: Maguire, Moan, Doyle.
CARRICK RANGERS: Glendinning 7, Forsythe 7, Watson 7, Gordon 7, Cushley 9 (Maciulaitis HT, 6), Mitchell 6 (Cameron 16, 6, Mackinnon 77, 6), Allen 8 (Mcguckin 79, 6), Cherry 7, Gibson 8, Teelan 7, Tilney 8 (Buchanan-rolleston 77, 6).
Unused subs: Mccauley, Graham.
Referee: Declan Hassan.
Match Rating: 6/10.
Man of the Match: David Cushley.