Sticking with the same side from Tuesday evening’s victory against Dungannon Swifts, Stuart King’s lads failed to maintain their level of performance in this fixture with Portadown striking early on fourteen minutes.
A free-kick just outside the area gave the hosts a promising opportunity which they took; ex-Carrick forward Cathair Friel saw his free-kick find its way through the wall to hit the back of the net.
The Shamrock Park outfit doubled their lead on the half hour mark as midfielder Josh Archer capitalised on some slack defending at the heart of the Rangers backline to gain possession and slot the ball past the advancing Ross Glendinning and into the far bottom corner.
The visitors would have been relieved to have heard the half time whistle, using the interval to regroup and try to find a way back into the game in the second period.
They came close to doing so through wing-back Kurtis Forsythe, who dragged his low shot wide of the far post from inside the area, before Ben Tilney then found the goal they were looking for.
After Jethren Barr had saved from a one-on-one against Lloyd Anderson, Tilney was alive in the box to convert the loose ball and give the ‘Gers the lifeline they needed.
The east Antrim men pushed for an equaliser but, a scrappy goalmouth scramble aside, they failed to break down a resolute Portadown team who went on to seal their win with only a few minutes remaining.
Again, Rangers were the masters of their own downfall as they failed to deal with the ball in defence, culminating in Friel being fed a pass inside that set him up to coolly net his second of the day.
Combined with Glenavon’s victory away to Newry City, this result put seventh-place out of reach for Carrick who now must put points on the board to ensure they safeguard eighth position.
Portadown: Barr; McKeown, McNally (Upton, 62), Rodgers; Chapman, Wilson, McCawl, Russell; Archer (Teggart, 75); Balde (O’Sullivan, 67), Friel.
Unused substitutes: Mastny, Stedman, Igiehon, Walker.
Carrick Rangers: Glendinning; Stewart (Gawne, 73) Ervin, Glendinning; Forsythe, Mitchell, Cherry (Anderson, 33), Tilney; Cushley (Nixon, 78); McGuckin, Maciulaitis.
Unused substitutes: Hogg, Surgenor, Kalla, Dupree.
Referee: Jamie Robinson
