Danske Bank Premiership: Carrick Rangers 2 Linfield 1
LINFIELD signed off on a week of woe yesterday afternoon as Carrick Rangers took the scalp of the reigning Irish League champions at Taylor’s Avenue.
The Blues missed out on the Europa Conference League group stages in heart-breaking fashion at Windsor Park on Thursday night, losing on penalties to Latvian outfit RFS, and David Healy’s men couldn’t lift themselves in time for yesterday’s return to the bread and butter of league football.
Andy Mitchell put the hosts into a first-half lead with a scintillating strike and, although Ethan Devine had got Linfield back on level terms with a quality finish, Derry Gael Emmett McGuckin blasted home to give Carrick all three points.
The defeat leaves Linfield four points behind early season pacesetters Glentoran – although the Glens have played a game more. Mick McDermott’s men dismissed bottom of the table Portadown 3-0 at Shamrock Park on Friday night to make it 10 points secured from four games played, with James Singleton, Conor McMenamin and Hrvoje Plum doing the business in front of goal for the east Belfast club.
That win was enough to leave Glentoran top of the table at the end of the weekend’s play as in-form Coleraine suffered their first defeat, at home to Glenavon. Peter Campbell, Robert Garrett and Matthew Fitzpatrick were all on target for Gary Hamilton’s men.
Crusaders continued their own good start to the season thanks to a comeback win over Newry Town on Saturday. Daniel Hughes had put the home side in front at the Newry Showgrounds, but Philip Lowry and Daniel Larmour came up with the goods for the north Belfast men to send them home happy.
