David Cushley led by example against his former side as Carrick Rangers ended their long winless streak with a 3-0 victory over Ballymena United at the Loughview Leisure Arena.
he skipper struck twice either side of the interval to end a nine-game run without a win in the league that stretched back to November 20 — when they also beat Ballymena — with sub Ewan Kelly’s strike helping lift Stuart King’s side back up into ninth.
Ryan Waide had the best chance of the game for Ballymena when his glancing header was cleared off the line by Ben Tilney, but that was as close as the Sky Blues would ever come, and Cushley then opened the scoring four minutes before the break when Ciaran Gallagher — who only signed for Ballymena yesterday — swung and missed a Kyle Cherry corner which allowed the midfielder to take a touch and pick the top corner.
Cushley then doubled their advantage in the 65th minute when Kym Nelson handled in the box, converting from 12 yards, with replacement Kelly then sealing the three points when he raced through and jammed the ball under the diving Gallagher with just over 10 minutes to go.
CARRICK RANGERS: Skeet, Forsythe, Ervin, Surgenor (Magill 89), Tilney, Glendinning, Cherry (Hoy 89), Gawne (Kalla 80), Anderson, Cushley (E Kelly 74), Gibson (Chambers 89).
Subs not used: Shields, Quinn.
BALLYMENA UNITED: Gallagher, Place, Keeley, Rodgers (McGrory 59), Redman (Kane 74), McCullough, Millar, Graham, Nelson, Waide, McElroy.
Subs not used: Henderson, Barr, Bramall, Loughran, Smith.
Man of the Match: David Cushley (Carrick)
Referee: Christopher Morrison
Match Rating: 4/10