Could a Seaview return be on the cards?

Last Saturday’s washout at Taylor’s Avenue has added to a hectic schedule which means they could be fighting a losing battle to complete their programme by the end of April deadline, should the weather continue to play havoc with fixtures.

“It’s an option we are seriously considering, but it depends on the co-operation of Crusaders and the other clubs we have to play,” said Gers boss Michael Hughes. “Games there on Wednesdays and Saturdays would be the ideal scenario, with the certainty of getting matches played being the prime motivation for the proposal,” he said.

Putting Carrick’s pile-up plight into perspective, the loss of the home tie against Bangor meant they were left with 12 fixtures to play in the next six weeks - their 12 league games to date having been played on a timespan of 32 weeks!

“We had covered the corner which was the main problem and we thought we’d get the game played on Saturday but the rain just kept coming down and the referee called it off. But, in truth, it was the right thing to do,” assured the manager.

Saturday afternoon proved frustrating for Hughes in more ways than one. After their game was scrapped, he made his way to Larne to watch the club’s next two opponents go head-to-head - only to find Inver Park virtually deserted as the Larne game fell foul of the heavy rain after just 22 minutes.

“Everybody had gone but there was some consolation in knowing that it wasn’t a case of our pitch being the only one not able to cope with the horrible weather,” he said.

“I did get to speak with Sammy Workman and he said Larne were getting battered and were already a goal down and looking in big trouble,” said Hughes, who was not at all surprised.

“Institute are one of the best footballing teams around. If you picked a team to watch it would be them. They play 4-3-3 and like to build from the back.

“They drew 2-2 down here and gave us a bit of a footballing lesson in the first half, leading 2-0 when it might have been 4-0. But we dominated the second half and got the draw,” added Hughes, who is eagerly looking forward to the long trip to Drumahoe.