Match Highlights vs Carrick Rangers

HIGHLIGHTS from the Bannsiders’ win against Carrick Rangers are now available to watch on the club’s official YouTube channel…

The Bannsiders would move up to third in the Danske Bank Premiership as a deadly double from Curtis Allen paved the way for all three points at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena.

The first meaningful chance of the game would arrive on 21 minutes as Jamie Glackin’s corner kick was drifted goalwards by the wind, and after Aaron Hogg clawed the ball away from safety, both Stephen O’Donnell and Allen would be denied on the goal line.

After Hogg made a timely interception to deny Glackin a certain goal from Stewart Nixon’s cross, the visitors would have a goal disallowed on 45 minutes as Stephen Lowry’s through ball found the run of Lyndon Kane. The full-back had the vision to pick out Allen who smashed home but he was adjudged to have been offside.

The Stripes would make a strong start to the second-half as Josh Carson tested Hogg inside the box. However, the deadlock was broken on 59 minutes as Kane and Allen played a one-two, with the latter finding the back of the net after referee Lee Tavinder played a great advantage following a foul on Kane.

The game was put to bed on 76 minutes as Lowry’s through ball was flicked inadvertently into the path of Allen who was in the right place at the right time to slot home a second.

Martin Gallagher – who deputised in nets following an injury to Gareth Deane – preserved a clean sheet late on as he made an excellent double save to deny Jordan Gibson.