Irish Premiership: Glenavon relegated after defeat by Crues while Coleraine move second with win

It was Carrick who registered the first effort on goal in the 10th minute at Bangor, as the hosts failed to clear Aidan Steele’s corner and the ball dropped to Danny Gibson, but the forward could only guide his header into the hands of Gareth Deane.

Chances remained at a premium in the first half, and the Seasiders came closest in the 39th minute when Tiarnan Mulvenna knocked Iestyn Hughes’ cross into the path of Ben Cushnie, who failed to make clean contact, much to the relief of Nathan Gartside.

That set the tone for a decisive spell, as the breakthrough arrived moments later with Mark Haughey slipping while attempting to clear and Luke McCullough picking out Gibson unmarked, the Gers’ top scorer rifling into the top corner.

Into first-half stoppage time, the visitors doubled their advantage as Gibson calmly rolled his penalty low to the left of Deane for his second of the afternoon following Lewis Francis’ late challenge on Kyle Cherry in the area.

Lee Feeney’s men emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and almost reduced the deficit, when Jay Boyd latched onto a poor clearance and struck from the edge of the box, but Steele stood firm to make the block and preserve Carrick’s two-goal cushion.

The hosts kept pushing and came close again as Cushnie laid the ball into the path of Robbie Garrett, who unleashed a powerful effort from 20 yards, only for Gartside to react sharply and palm it away.

Just after the hour mark, the points were sealed as Adam Lecky found Steele on the edge of the area, and the midfielder shifted the ball onto his right before guiding it into the bottom corner.