Ards 1 Carrick Rangers 2
(Carrick win 3-1 on aggregate)
CARRICK Rangers are back in the Danske Bank Premiership after securing a gutsy win with 10 men in a dramatic promotion, relegation showdown with Ards at the Bangor Fuels Arena.
First half goals from Mark Surgenor and Ryan Strain helped seal a 3-1 aggregate win for the Taylor’s Avenue men who lost defender Chrissy Rodgers to a 47th minute red card.
Johnny Taylor had given Ards hope when he pulled one back before the break, but Niall Currie’s men regrouped after Rodgers' dismissal and held on for a memorable victory.
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Rangers, who had carved out a slender 1-0 lead from Friday’s first leg at the Loughshore Arena, doubled their advantage when they scored an early opener.
It came from the head of skipper Surgenor who rose highest to thump home a corner from two yards out.
It was 2-0 to the visitors - and 3-0 on aggregate - on the half hour mark when another corner caused panic inside the Ards penalty area.
Rodgers helped the ball towards goal and the lurking Strain produced a clever flicked header to direct the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Ards gave themselves hope seven minutes later when Taylor pulled one back when he nipped in front of the keeper to head home his first goal of the season.
Carrick were then reduced to 10 men two minutes into the second half when Rodgers, who had been booked on 36 minutes, picked up his second yellow of the night.
Despite that setback, it was Carrick who went close to adding to their tally when young midfielder Caolin Coyle fired wide after a bursting run.
Keeper Aaron Hogg held onto Ards striker Darren Boyce’s acrobatic effort and also smothered late headed efforts from Henderson and Michael McLellan as Carrick held out for a memorable win.
Promotion for a jubilant Carrick and the dark spectre of relegation for Ards.
