Following defeat at Linfield, Stuart King was forced to make three changes to his side as the unavailable Steven Gordon, David Cushley and Andy Mitchell went out and were replaced by Mark Surgenor, Kyle Cherry and James McLaughlin.
Chances were at a minimum for both teams in the first half. A header from Lee Bonis that went wide and an off-target Joe Thomson strike the only opportunities of note in an otherwise scrappy affair.
Both sides seemed to spring into life following the break, though, with Rangers starting the brighter. Ben Tilney’s blocked shot resulted in a corner from which Cherry’s delivery was then headed wide by Reece Glendinning.
However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Thomson played the ball forward for Andy Ryan whose neat exchange with strike partner Lee Bonis put him through on goal to fire past Ross Glendinning.
As they have done so often this season, Carrick responded with fighting spirit and got themselves level again just three minutes later. From a tight angle on the left flank, Cherry’s pinpoint free-kick smashed off the top of the far post to give ‘keeper Rohan Ferguson and his defence no chance as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
With the game now even once more, it would be substitute Paul O’Neill who made the difference for the Inver Reds.
First, he got a flick on Ryan’s shot with his head to loop the ball beyond the dive of Glendinning before volleying in from twelve yards just minutes later to give his side a two-goal advantage.
The ‘Gers battled to the end, and halved the deficit as the contest entered injury time. Ben Tilney’s shot from an Alex Gawne cross was kept out on the line by the hand of Cian Bolger, resulting in the award of a penalty and a straight red card for the defender. Cherry stepped up to coolly dispatch the spot-kick, but there was not enough time left for an equaliser as Rangers narrowly lost the game.
Carrick Rangers: Glendinning; Glendinning, Ervin, Surgenor; Forsythe (Dupree, 84), Cherry, Anderson, Tilney; Maciulaitis; McGuckin, McLaughlin (Gawne, 71).
Unused substitutes: Hogg, Kalla, Buchanan-Rolleston, Graham, Andrews.
Larne: Ferguson; Want, Bolger, Donnelly; Cosgrove, Gordon, Millar, Glynn (Kelly, 82); Thomson (Maguire, 72 (Watson, 90+1)); Bonis (O’Neill, 72), Ryan.
Unused substitutes: Pardington, Sule, Kearns.
Referee: Jamie Robinson
