Following the heartache of a penalty shootout defeat to Ballymena United in the Irish Cup six days prior, Stuart King would have been hoping his players could replicate the same levels of performance in this outing while picking up a positive result.
After an even opening under the lights at the Loughview Leisure Arena, Cliftonville struck ahead on fifteen minutes.
A contentious free-kick decision presented Levi Ives with an opportunity from twenty yards and the left-back found the corner of the net with a well-placed strike.
Undeterred, Rangers continued to compete well and got their reward for their efforts by drawing level on the half-hour mark.
A Kyle Cherry corner-kick caused problems in the box and after Steven Gordon’s attempt was blocked, David Cushley stabbed in the rebound to equalise.
However, it would take the visitors just two minutes to regain their lead.
Sean Moore worked his way in from the right flank, slipping through the Carrick backline and firing the ball past Ross Glendinning.
Reds ‘keeper Nathan Gartside maintained his side’s advantage with saves to deny Cherry and Cushley, but was forced off through injury soon after and replaced between the posts by Gerard Doherty.
Then, in the fourth minute of first half injury time, Paddy McLaughlin’s men struck once more.
Another free-kick from Ives this time picked out Ronan Hale who from six yards made no mistake to head in.
Stuart King’s side weren’t going to go down without a fight, though, as they pulled a goal back six minutes after the break.
Jim Ervin’s free-kick found Tilney on the left who took a great touch before drilling a low delivery across the face of goal for Cherry to net his first goal of the season.
The ‘Gers continued to fight throughout the closing stages of the game and finally, in the 90th minute, they completed their comeback.
Gordon, who had been thrown up top in the dying minutes, saw his effort come back off the post when one-on-one with Doherty, but Lloyd Anderson followed up with a fine finish on the turn to ensure a share of the spoils.
Carrick Rangers: Glendinning; Surgenor, Ervin, Gordon; Forsythe, Cherry, Glendinning (Gawne, 70), Tilney; Anderson; Cushley (Kalla, 80), McGuckin.
Unused substitutes: Hogg, Buchanan-Rolleston, McKiernan, Waite, Gillen.
Cliftonville: Gartside (G. Doherty, 42); Lowe, Robinson, Turner, Ives; Gallagher, R. Doherty (Casey, 60), Rory Hale; Moore, Gormley (Parkhouse, 60), Ronan Hale (Addis, 85).
Unused substitutes: C. Curran, R. Curran, McDonagh.
Referee: Shane Andrews
