Heatley strike gives Carrick opening win over Ports

Irish Premiership Carrick Rangers 1 - 0 Portadown FT Paul Heatley scored the only goal of the game as David Jeffrey's return to Irish Premiership management with Portadown ended in a 1-0 defeat by Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue There was controversy inside the opening two minutes Heatley, who had broken through, went down following a tangle with Jack Scott, but referee Steven Gregg waved play on. However, the Ballyclare official was forced to reach for his red card on 26 minutes to dismiss Portadown's Liam Jessop for a high challenge on Michael Place. Soon after, Carrick's Danny Gibson smashed a shot against the post and then, in a rare Portadown attack, Eamon Fyfe fired over in a crowded goalmouth. Carrick came close on the hour mark when Jordan Forsythe's firm header from Benjamin Buchanan-Rolleston cross was superbly turned away by Aaron McCarey. But just two minutes later Carrick were in front when Gibson's cross from the left was only half-cleared by Rhys Breen and Heatley was on hand to smash a shot past McCarey. Carrick boss Stephen Baxter praised match-winner Heatley, who he said was a "joy to watch". "He was nimble-footed, class, his brain works so fast. He causes people no end of trouble. If you give him a sight of goal he'll score those goals, he does it in training," Baxter added. "It was a well-deserved win and we were quite a bit ahead today in terms of chances created and we hit the post. On reflection of the game, we were a better side."