FOOTBALL: ‘Hopefully lessons can be learned’, says Carrick Rangers chair Hilditch

That was the verdict of club chairman David Hilditch, who feels the Taylors Avenue side has not lived up to its potential during the first half of its league campaign.

“We have been in winning position on a number of occasions this year, and it has been disappointing that we haven’t been able to see out more games,” he added.

“We have dropped about 10-12 points in the last 10 minutes of game.

“I think the players haven’t done themselves justice by not picking up a few more points.

“Hopefully lessons can be learned going forward into the second half of the season.”

Carrick secured a hard-fought point against bottom side Warrenpoint Town on Boxing Day to maintain their nine-point relegation zone safety net.

Hilditch insisted a draw was “probably a fair result”, adding: “The main thing was that we did not lose and managed to retain our cushion above the drop zone.”

He now hopes Carrick will be able to ring in the New Year with a result in tomorrow’s (Friday) home fixture against fifth-placed Glenavon.

“To me, Glenavon are one of the fancied sides outside the ‘Belfast Four’,” he told the Times.

“Surprisingly, they dropped points against Warrenpoint a couple of weeks ago, but they are coming off the back of a win over Portadown on Boxing Day, so this will be a difficult fixture for us to kick off 2016.

“We will have to lift our game, but I am hopeful we can get something out of the match.”

Carrick go into the New Year one point adrift of Dungannon, but with two games in hand.