Reds aim to hit back after derby defeat

Ballyclare Comrades’ miserable form continued at Taylor’s Avenue where a 2-0 weekend defeat left them one place above the Championship 1 relegation trap-door.
Ballyclare keeper Paddy Flood comes to collect the ball during the derby with Carrick Rangers.Ballyclare keeper Paddy Flood comes to collect the ball during the derby with Carrick Rangers.
Ballyclare keeper Paddy Flood comes to collect the ball during the derby with Carrick Rangers.

However, manager Eddie Hill is far from downhearted, and said his lads can’t wait until Saturday’s home clash with Lisburn Distillery.

“The 2-0 scoreline in Carrick didn’t reflect the overall pattern of the game,” Hill argued. “Carrick had the edge in the first half, but we held the balance in the second, even though we played most of it with only 10 men. A draw would have been a fairer result.

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“After Denver Gage picked up his second yellow with 20 minutes to go, we were not the underdogs. We didn’t look like a team that was short-handed and we were pressing for an equaliser when they killed us off with that second goal deep in to injury-time,” he contended.

“Two weeks ago we lost to Bangor by a single goal. Bangor and Carrick are title contenders and neither of them turned us over, so we can take plenty of positives from these performances.

“We are failing to put away half-chances, while at the other end we are being punished for mistakes,” he added.

Asked about the two goals, Hill explained: “The first was the result of Adam McCart’s slip, while the second was a counter-attack when we were piling players forward in pursuit of what would have been a deserved late equaliser.”

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Ballyclare will be hoping to end a six-game losing sequence when they entertain Tommy Kincaid’s side and Hill insists his men are hungry to get back to winning ways.

n More Ballyclare Comrades coverage inside.

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