Saturday 10th April 2010 - Ladbrokes.com Championship 1

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Stevie McDowell, 14. Davy Officer, 15.Steve Bainbridge, 16.Marty McAvoy, 17.Neil McGrath

Carrick Rangers: Moane, Braniff, R.Murray, McClean, Prenter, Deans, Hand, Taggart, Bloomer, Craig, Bowers. Subs - Browne, McDowell, C.Murray.

Comrades substitutions

Gareth Curlett (72')

Neil McGrath (72')

Ronnie Burns (81')

Steve Bainbridge (81')

Goals

Chris Murray (66')

Comrades cards

Stuart Galbraith (54')

Comrades man of the match

Andy Long

Comrades’ poor run of results in derby matches in recent seasons continued with a narrow defeat in a scrappy match at sunny Taylor’s Avenue.

Gordon Chambers made one change to his starting line-up for this match, with Andy Simms replacing Davy Officer on the left of midfield. Otherwise, with Lee Rushe injured and Simon McGowan suspended, the side was the same as had lost to Banbridge on Good Friday.

The home side were the livelier early on and they had the first effort of the match in the 4th minute, when Braniff hit a shot just over the bar from 20 yards out. Then, on 10 minutes, Comrades were fortunate not to concede when Gareth Curlett lost the ball in the box, allowing Craig to hit a first-time effort from 16 yards, which went low and wide of the target.

Carrick continued on the front foot and in the 11th minute Allen Huxley had to be well positioned to gather the ball after a spectacular volleyed effort from Craig 16 yards out on the right side of the box.

Comrades were struggling to create much at the other end, as the home side controlled the play. On 19 minutes Carrick had another decent effort, when Braniff hit a good low shot from the edge of the box, which forced a smart save from Huxley.

The visitors’ only real glimmer of a chance in the first half came on 22 minutes when a free-kick struck low into the box by Andy Simms caused some panic, and almost broke to Mark McClelland in a great position, before being scrambled clear by the Carrick defence.

The best efforts continued to come from the home side. On 38 minutes the ball was played through to Hand on the right side of the box, bouncing perfectly for him to strike, but his effort from 15 yards sailed over the bar. Then, four minutes later, Taggart hit a powerful shot from 20 yards, which would have seriously troubled Allen Huxley, but fortunately for Comrades the ball struck a Carrick player in the box, taking most of the pace off the shot and allowing Huxley to make a comfortable save.

Comrades would have been happy to go in at half-time on level-terms, with the opportunity to play down the significant slope of the Taylor’s Avenue pitch in the second period. However, the first effort after the re-start again fell to the home side. Taggart won a 50/50 tackle with Stuart Galbraith outside the box and then hit a firm effort on target from 20 yards, forcing a smart save from Allen Huxley.

Comrades did, however, show more enterprise as the half progressed. On 59 minutes, Mark McClelland collected a throw into the box from the left and turned his man neatly before firing over from the angle of the 6-yard box.

Two minutes later, at the other end Allen Huxley had to be alert to tip over a ball punted into the box from just inside the Comrades half by McClean.

On 62 minutes Comrades produced their best effort of the match and could easily have taken the lead. A great cross from deep on the left by Darren Munster was perfectly placed for Stuart Galbraith arriving at the far post, but his downward header from 5 yards, was brilliantly saved by Moane low inside his post.

The game had been fairly scrappy throughout and looked like it might be heading for a scoreless draw, but on 66 minutes Carrick grabbed what was to prove the winner. A long throw into the box came of the head of Gareth Curlett and fell invitingly at the back post to Chris Murray, whose stooping heard from 4 yards gave Allen Huxley no chance.

Comrades had a chance to hit back almost straight away, a minute later, when Andy Simms latched on to a header on from Stuart Galbraith, but his first-time effort from 15 yards was rather snatched at and flew over the bar.

The visitors raised their efforts to equalise as time began to run out. On 74 minutes and Andy Simms cross from the left was met by a well struck Stuart Galbraith volley from 14 yards, which flashed just wide of the target. Then, on 82 minutes, a throw into the box was flicked on to newly introduced substitute Steve Bainbridge, but his header from 10 yards went just over the bar.

As Comrades threw men forward in search of the leveller, Carrick had space to threaten on the counter-attack. They had a couple of late chances to make their victory secure. On 83 minutes McDowell produced a good shot on the turn, which forced a save from Allen Huxley. Then, on 85 minutes, Browne hit a fierce effort just over the bar from 20 yards.

In the end, however, the one goal proved enough for the home side and Comrades finished another East Antrim derby with nothing to show for their efforts.

Although Comrades’ performance was an improvement on that produced against Banbridge, they will need to step their game up further in a difficult run-in to the end of the season.