Carrick hit four past Bangor at Clandeboye Park

Mark Jones
BBC Sport NI contributor

Carrick Rangers produced a ruthless second-half display on their way to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

Matthew Snoddy broke the deadlock with an early strike before both Luke McCullough and Jimmy Callacher were denied by the woodwork.

Despite second-half pressure from the hosts, quickfire goals from Danny Gibson and Paul Heatley put the contest beyond reach before Joe Crowe sealed the rout with an 87th-minute stunner.

The result sees the visitors secure a third win in four league outings, while winless Bangor will be hoping to bounce back when they face the Welders in the County Antrim Shield.

Gers' attack shoots down the Seasiders

The visitors got off to a dream start on seven minutes when Snoddy connected with Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston's left-wing delivery, flicking the ball home at the front post.

That set the tone, and Stephen Baxter's side went close to doubling their advantage moments later when McCullough met Heatley's inswinging corner, only for the defender's left-footed effort from close range to cannon off the crossbar.

The chances kept coming for the away side, and on the stroke of half-time Carrick were unfortunate not to extend their lead when Callacher climbed highest to direct Heatley's curling set-piece against the woodwork.

Early in the second half, the Gers should have had their second when Mikey Place picked out Gibson with an inch-perfect cross, unmarked at the back post, and with goalkeeper Gareth Deane stranded, the striker somehow skied his effort over from point-blank range.

Gibson put that earlier miss to bed in style in the 70th minute, ghosting in behind the Bangor defence before slotting past a helpless Deane.

Heatley made sure of the points three minutes later, turning in from close range after a neat one-two with Gibson for his third league goal of the season.

A few minutes before the end, substitute Crowe added a fourth in sensational fashion, the midfielder tracking a flighted ball dropping over his shoulder before catching it sweetly on the full and rifling a blistering first-time volley past Deane.

What the managers said

Bangor manager Lee Feeney: "We were lucky it was only four. It was a tough one to take; I thought we were very, very naive in everything we've done. Just reflecting on it now, it could have been more, but we have to think about things and see how to approach games moving forward."

"We know what they're all about; they're the best in the league at what they do. For me, it was too easy a cross to come in and run into the blind side of our defenders, so it's everything we spoke about in the team talk not to let happen. We regrouped well and had plenty of the ball, but they just kept picking us off when we lost it."

"There was a lack of discipline and lack of experience at the back, there was no organisation, and we were leaving ourselves open, and it was just really, really disappointing."

Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter: "Scoring four goals away from home without reply is always good, and we hit the woodwork numerous times as well, so that probably says a little bit about our dominance in the final third whenever we were attacking."

"Bangor had their moments and were very good in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but once we scored the second goal we started to take the game away from them."

"Paul Heatley and Danny Gibson are a lethal force when they get going, and our back three of Luke McCullough, Jimmy Callacher and BJ Burns gave us a masterclass in how to pass, play and hold a shape."