Carrick Rangers host Linfield in a 12.30pm kick-off at Taylor’s Avenue.
Carrick Rangers
1
:
0
Linfield
Joe Crowe
3′
Joshua Andrews replaces David Cushley. Andrews is a busy midfielder
Ben McAuley makes his most impressive save off the game. Kirk Millar’s cross finds Euan East inside the Carrick area, he turns the ball towards goal, forcing McAuley to tip it over the bar. The corner kick is dealt with.
Linfield are getting closer.
It’s all Linfield now. Ball after ball fired deep into the Carrick box. Crowe, McCullough and keeper McAuley are keeping them at bay, however
A corner into the Carrick box cuases panic and in the scramble the ball is forced out for another corner. Linfield turning up the heat now.
Kirk Millar sends in another free-kick, but Luke McCullough heads it clear once again.
Another scare for Linfield. A Cushley’s inswinging corner kick hits the foot of the post after Kirk Millar left it. That’s a big let-off
Ben McAuley has shown a very clean pair of hands in the Carrick goal so far. He claims another cross.
We’re back underway. Linfield shooting towards their own fans in the second half. Can they find an equaliser?
Some of the Linfield fans have turned on David Healy. Chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ as he returns to the dugout for the second half
And there’s the half-time whistle. Carrick lead Linfield 1-0 thanks to a third minute foal from Joe Crowe.
Linfield have peppered the Carrick box with crosses and set-pieces since the goal, but Crowe and Luke McCullough have dealt with it all without much hassle.
David Healy takes a bit of flak from the Linfield faithful as he walks towards the changing room.
Kirk Millar’s free-kick is dreadful. Well over the bar with a box full of teammates.
David Cushley bundles over Jamie Mulgrew on the edge of the box. It’s a yellow for Cushley and a Linfield free-kick in a very dangerous area.
Maciulatis whips a great ball towards the back post, Curtis Allen looks set to steer it into the net, but Euan East produces a goal saving challenge.
It’s corner after corner for Linfield, but Carrick are batting them all back. Not much is getting past Luke McCullough in the heart of the Carrick backline.
The young fans at this game absolutely love it when someone falls over.
Linfield on top now. Millar’s inswinging cross finds Fitzpatrick, but his header drifts wide of the post.
Kirk Millar twists and turns on the edge of the box, before curling a shot towards goal from 15 yards. It’s easily held by Ben McAuley.
McAuley is standing in for the suspended Ross Glendinning. It’s the former PSNI goalkeeper’s first league match for Carrick.
Kirk Millar tries his luck from 25 yards, but it balloons well over the bar.
The Blues are starting to look a little more threatening. Kirk Millar is starting to make inroads
Carrick are utilising free-kicks and corner-kicks well, using them to relief pressure at one end and to scare Linfield at the other