Stephen Baxter hails Carrick Rangers achievement after 'everybody thought we were in relegation trouble'

The Taylors Avenue outfit started the current campaign by registering three consecutive victories, but then won just two of their next 19 and were beaten 7-0 by Glentoran in a first league outing of 2026 on January 3.

However, Baxter’s men then transformed their fortunes, putting together a nine-game unbeaten run, which included six victories, to propel up the Premiership table.

Carrick battled for a top-six finish until the final weeks of the pre-split schedule and have now mathematically guaranteed passage to a European play-off as the Co Antrim club look to make their continental return for a first time since 1976/77.

Only the Premiership’s top-three have collected more points across their last 15 league matches than Carrick (28) and Baxter believes his stars deserve immense credit.

"We’ve qualified, which is a magnificent achievement,” Baxter told the club’s media channel. “On January 3 we lost 7-0 to Glentoran, it was doom and gloom all around the place, everybody thought we were in relegation trouble.

"We have gone on this incredible run of games, won a trophy along the way, what a celebration we should have and celebrate this great team in how well they’ve done and pulled themselves up by the boot laces and put themselves in a European qualification game.

"I think it’s magnificent. I’m delighted, I’m proud of these players, proud of the effort, proud of the way they have done it, and that’s something everybody should be proud of.”

Carrick fell behind after only two minutes as Success Edogun put Ballymena ahead, but Baxter’s men quickly responded through Danny Gibson.

They played almost 80 minutes with 10 men following Ben Buchanan-Rolleston’s dismissal.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Gibson put the hosts ahead before Igor Rutkowski’s late double sealed victory for the Sky Blues.

"I thought the team were absolutely superb,” added Baxter. “We’ve lost a man to a sending off, which was a sending off, after 15 minutes.

"Playing against such a strong wind, having to defend as resolutely as we have, going in at half-time at 1-1 I thought was brilliant.

"We needed to get a little bit more penetration up the pitch second half to find our way into the game, put some pressure on them, and we grew into the game.

"To be undone by a penalty, I’ll have to see it back again, it doesn’t look like a penalty. Evan Boyce is a friend of mine in this game over many years, I thought he was very quick to give it.

"Some go for you, some don’t...we had one which was the same thing, a huge shout, all the players went up for it, and we don’t get it.

"Our players are hugely frustrated, sometimes you just want consistency in all of this, and for me it wasn’t there today...I don’t want to be too hard, but we were undone by a couple of decisions when we were down to 10 men.

"It was a big call to give...they’ve scored two goals in the dying embers and that’s difficult to take.”