Loughgall 5 - 1 Carrick Rangers
Five-star Loughgall demolished title rivals Carrick Rangers at Lakeview Park with four goals coming from excellent set pieces. Despite not being in control in the first period Niall Currie’s men went in ahead at the break and three second half goals ended the test of Rangers.
The opening chance fell to the visitors as Neil Corr crossed for strike partner Peter Marks however he saw his headed effort drift wide under pressure from Noel Robinson.
Loughgall broke the deadlock after 4 minutes when Glenn Waddell’s curling free kick got the better of ‘keeper Gerard McErlean. Brian Adair had broken through before he was taken down on the edge of the box and the left back did excellently to guide the ball into the top corner.
A long throw 2 minutes later presented Dean Smith a chance to extend the lead but he headed over from close range. On 12 minutes Ryan Moffatt almost scored directly from a corner, his delivery was heading inside the back post however ‘keeper McErlean did well to punch the ball clear.
After 28 minutes Noel Robinson released Adair into the box and midfielder failed to find Adamczyk with a short pass. Moffatt ran onto the loose ball and tried his luck from 20 yards but drove the ball past the post.
The Villagers doubled their lead when Moffatt collected Alan Murphy’s pass on the left flank, he outpaced his marker before crossing the ball onto the bar and it was cleared. From the resulting corner, Adamczyk simply headed home from 5 yards as away ‘keeper McErlean was poor under the aerial threat.
3 minutes later another corner caused havoc in the Rangers penalty area, the ball eventually fell to Murphy however the defenders snapshot went over the crossbar. Carrick grabbed a goal back 5 minutes before the interval as James Braniff headed Glen Taggart’s corner past Marc Robinson for the first goal he has conceded in 551 minutes.
After the interval Rangers pressed for an equaliser however failed to create any clear cut chances. It was the home side with the first opportunity as Neil Alderdices forward ball was blasted wide from Adamczyk.
The Villagers restored their two goal advantage on 56 minutes when another corner caused problems for the Carrick defence. Noel Robinsons floated the ball onto Willie Herron head but it was Dean Smith who chested home from 2 yards.
After 72 minutes Moffatt incredibly managed to score directly from a corner kick something which he almost did in the first half. ‘Keeper McErlean failed to deal with the left footed delivery as it curled inside the back post.
A defensive mishap in the Loughgall defence almost ended in a goal for the visitors. Carrick winger Kyle McDowell raced onto the ball in a one-on-one situation and shot low however ‘keeper Robinson excellently saved to his right.
In injury time further misery was piled onto Rangers whenever Raymond Wilkinson turned on the edge of the box and shot goalwards. The ball deflected into fellow substitute Andy Browns path and the striker had the simple task of finding the bottom corner of the net.
Loughgall: M Robinson, Waddell, Alderdice, Peden, Murphy, Herron, Moffatt, Adair, Adamczyk (Wilkinson 77m), N Robinson (Lavery 77m), Smith (Brown 77m). Subs not used: O’Neill, Allen.
Carrick Rangers: McErlean, Phillips, McAlinden, McNamee, Braniff, Watson, Delgado, Taggart, Marks (McCellend 67m) (Baggley 90m), Corr (Costello 67m), McDowell. Subs not used: Campbell, Adams.
