FT: Carrick Rangers 3-1 Annagh United (8-3 agg)
Here's how Paul Heatley secured the win for Carrick Rangers with his second goal of the evening.
Watch: Paul Heatley scores for Carrick to make it 3-1
Carrick Rangers 3-1 Annagh United (8-3 on aggregate)
Stephen Baxter's Carrick Rangers comfortably secure their Premiership status with another convincing display.
After Paul Heatley's opener was cancelled out by James Convie's superb free-kick, second-half goals from Danny Gibson and Heatley again put the seal on a dominant aggregate victory.
The Championship side battled admirably, but the gap in quality showed across both legs. The Gers celebrate survival while Annagh must regroup for another promotion push next season.
Carrick Rangers 3-1 Annagh United (8-3 on aggregate)
Curtis Allen almost makes an immediate impact off the bench, racing in-behind the tiring Annagh defence.
The experienced striker gets his shot away but watches as it rolls narrowly wide of the far post.
Carrick Rangers 3-1 Annagh United (8-3 on aggregate)
Change for Annagh United as Craig Taylor is withdrawn, with Eoin Teggart coming on to replace him.
Carrick Rangers 3-1 Annagh United (8-3 on aggregate)
Triple change for Carrick Rangers as Stephen Baxter gives his key attackers a well-deserved rest.
Nedas Maciulaitis, Danny Gibson and two-goal hero Paul Heatley make way for Curtis Allen, Jack O'Reilly and Reece Glendinning. Job done for the departing trio, who receive hearty applause from the home supporters.
Paul Heatley - 82 mins
Paul Heatley doubles his tally for the evening!
Danny Gibson makes amends for his earlier selfishness with a perfectly weighted pass across the six-yard box, leaving Heatley with the simplest of finishes into an empty net.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Danny Gibson opts to go it alone, firing a low effort narrowly wide of the post with Paul Heatley screaming for the ball in a far better position.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Craig Taylor delivers a corner for Annagh, picking out Jack Evans, who rises well, but directs his header wide of the target.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Kyle Cherry makes way for David Cushley to a warm round of applause from the Carrick faithful. The midfielder has put in a solid shift in the engine room for the Gers.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Another defensive lapse as Lee Upton's attempted clearance heads straight into Danny Gibson's path.
The frontman connects with the volley but sends it sailing over the crossbar.
Gibson shakes his head - he should have done better there.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Lee Upton with a failed clearance that falls straight to Danny Gibson.
The forward cuts it back for Kyle Cherry, who shoots from close range, but Upton recovers well to throw himself in front of the ball.
Corner to come for the home side.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 agg)
Carrick are well on their way to retaining their top flight status.
Danny Gibson has them in front on the night.
Watch: Danny Gibson scores for Carrick to make it 2-1
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Kris Calvert brings down Paul Heatley with a clumsy challenge and gets a yellow card for his troubles.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Triple change for Annagh United as Ciaran McGurgan looks to freshen things up.
James Convie, the scorer, Ruairi McDonald and Ryan Swan make way for Stephen Murray, Jack Henderson and Jack Evans.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
More relentless pressure from Carrick Rangers as they win a succession of corners.
The home side looking to twist the knife now with the tie effectively settled. You can see the Championship outfit beginning to tire.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Kyle Cherry’s corner is only half-cleared and drops invitingly to Paul Heatley on the edge of the area.
He takes it on the half-volley, but catches it all wrong and sends his effort well off target.
Carrick Rangers 2-1 Annagh United (7-3 on aggregate)
Luke O'Brien swings in a corner for the hosts, with Nedas Maciulaitis poised to head goalward at the near post.
Lee Upton stands tall once again though, powering away another important clearance.
Danny Gibson - 52 mins
That's surely Premiership status secured for Stephen Baxter's men!
Paul Heatley delivers a delightful lofted ball into the box, Danny Gibson controls it beautifully with his chest before curling a composed finish low into the far bottom corner.
Those two were the difference on Tuesday and have proved to be the difference this evening.
Carrick Rangers 1-1 Annagh United (6-3 on aggregate)
Blistering counter-attack from Carrick!
Paul Heatley slides a through ball into the path of Danny Gibson, who shapes to shoot inside the area, but Lee Upton produces a vital last-ditch challenge to deny the former Glentoran man.
Carrick Rangers 1-1 Annagh United (6-3 on aggregate)
Kurtis Forsythe embarks on an ambitious charge forward from defence, carrying the ball a considerable distance before James Convie crudely pushes him to the ground.
An easy decision for Christopher Morrison, who shows Annagh's goalscorer a yellow card.
Highlights: Carrick ease past Annagh to secure Premiership status
Carrick Rangers have retained their Irish Premiership status with an 8-3 aggregate win over Annagh United.
Stephen Baxter's side led 5-2 from the first leg and a double from Paul Heatley and Danny Gibson's goal secured the tie at Taylors Avenue with a 3-1 win in the second leg.
Heatley broke the deadlock after 15 minutes and he benefited from quick thinking by strike partner Gibson.
When Craig Taylor's long throw was hooked clear by Joe Crowe, Gibson immediately turned defence into attack and Carrick surged forward in numbers.
The striker spotted Heatley in space and slid the ball into his path, which allowed the winger to jink inside and unleash a left-footed strike, which took a heavy deflection off Nathan Kerr and looped cruelly over Joel Little.
Annagh hit back late in the first half through James Conive's moment of brilliance.
The midfielder's 25-yard free-kick flew into the top corner beyond Ross Glendinning's outstretched arm – a carbon copy of their first-leg goal and a rare moment of quality from the Championship runners-up.
However, Carrick quickly restored their momentum just after the break when Gibson effectively ended the contest on 52 minutes. Heatley turned provider with a lofted delivery into the box, where Gibson controlled expertly on his chest and guided the ball into the far corner.
Heatley put the icing on the cake eight minutes before the end when Gibson crossed low into the six-yard box, and the former Crusaders forward applied the simplest of finishes.
Ciaran McGurgan's charges never lacked spirit, but across both legs, Carrick Rangers ultimately demonstrated their superior class to preserve their top-flight status.
