Lacklustre Rangers no match for Limavady

And their dismal run continued on Saturday away at Limavady United with only an Ashton McDermott goal to show for their efforts.

United set the tone early on when Lee Patrick headed home the first of his side’s three goals after some generous defending afforded him space and time just outside the six-yard box.

After last week’s forgettable display away at Tobermore United, Rangers must have had that sinking feeling when Cathair Friel evaded the attention of Kyle Owens to double their advantage five minutes later.

McDermott gave the Amber Army hope when he found space at the back post to head home his second goal of the season, but United secured all three points when Patrick netted number three.

If there are positives to be gleaned from yet another lacklustre showing, it’s that Carrick are still creating clear-cut chances. Sencer Yilmaz squandered a good opportunity to get them back into the match when he blazed the ball over the bar from an acute angle, before Harmon also saw his edge-of-the-box effort drift wide.

All this before an acrobatic reflex save from Laurence McCormick denied Yilmaz’s close-range header.

The result leaves Carrick languishing in ninth spot in Championship 1, with 10 points from seven games outings. Yes, they have games in hand, but their poor form is a real concern for the club’s faithful band of fans. And even more concerning, perhaps is that they will be without the first-choice central defensive pairing of Owens and Gary Haveron - both of whom are suspended. The squad will have to come up with the goods against a Loughgall side who eased to a 4-2 win over The Welders last time out. After that, there’s the small matter of the East Antrim derby against basement club Larne - and it’s a game neither side will want to lose.

Carrick Rangers: Robinson, Murray, West, Owens, Crawford (Armour), Harmon, McDermott (Neill), Haveron, McCloskey, Addis, Yilmaz. Unused subs: Taggart, Steele.

Limavady United: McCormick, Roddy, Morrison, McConaghie, McNulty, Patrick, Mullan, McClean, Parkhill, Friel, Blackburn. Unused subs: McAllister, Close, McIvor, Doran.

Referee: P. McFadden. Assistants: D. O’Connor, D. Watt.