The game got off to an explosive start with the sides trading goals inside the opening ten minutes.

Visitors Carrick took the lead as early as the fifth minute through Colin Downey who collected the ball from a right wing cross to fire an unstoppable shot past Ian Mannus.

But the Comrades were back on level terms five minutes later from the spot when Michael Smith converted after a foul on Ryan Murray.

Ballyclare then moved in front two mintes from the break. Smith combined well with Simon McGowan down the right flank with the ball arriving at the feet of Ricky Higgins who, with his back to goal 10 yards out, turned to fire high into the Carrick net.

However, Carrick equalised on 62 minutes with the second penalty of the game. McGowan gave the ball away just outside the box, allowing Chris O’Hare to pick it up before being brought down inside the area and Pedro Delgado made no mistake with the spot-kick.