Despite heavy rain in the lead up to the game, the Loughview Leisure Arena surface passed its 5:00pm inspection to allow the action to proceed as planned, streamed live by the BBC Sport NI cameras.
In the only change to the side that drew 2-2 with Loughgall six days prior, Emmett McGuckin came in for Curtis Allen as Stuart King dispatched Nedas Maciulaitis and Danny Purkis to play in left and right wing respectively.
Rangers started the brighter of the two teams, highlighted by the award of a penalty-kick to the home team after just six minutes.
Ben Tilney went on a mazy run down the left, twice getting past opposing full-back Mal Smith before he was clipped by Billy Joe Burns in the box with referee Ian McNabb immediately pointing to the spot.
Skipper David Cushley donned the responsibility from twelve yards but his spot-kick, which he struck hard and low towards the centre of goal, was kept out by the body of visiting goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey.
Tilney then went close himself as his shot from just over twenty yards out stung the palms of Tuffey with centre-half Josh Robinson then on hand to clear the ball away.
Carrick’s ascendency continued as a great turn out right from Danny Purkis got him away from Daniel Larmour and, after skipping past Burns, he saw his resulting shot from a similar position to Tilney’s tipped over the crossbar.
Crusaders’ first chance of the evening came when Jordan Forsythe’s ball over the top was brought down by Paul Heatley who narrowly side-footed beyond the upright from the left channel of the box.
Just as it appeared the teams would remain at stalemate come half time, the visitors took the lead.
Jarlath O’Rourke found midfielder Philip Lowry down the left who took a touch inside before arrowing a pinpoint strike into the far corner from the 18 yard line.
Now needing an equaliser as they entered the second period, Tilney remained Rangers’ liveliest threat as he dribbled into the area away from the chasing defenders but couldn't find the direction nor power required with his right-footed shot to trouble Tuffey.
As the contest entered its final ten minutes, Lewis MacKinnon’s long ball was flicked on by Emmett McGuckin towards Danny Purkis but it was just behind the forward who wasn’t able to control it, allowing Forsythe to rush in and clear the danger.
Then, in the first minute of injury time, a corner-kick was cleared out as far as Cushley who, from outside the area, smashed a low shot the wrong side of the post to ultimately sum up a night where the ‘Gers put on a performance to be proud of but were unable to find the back of the net when it counted.
Carrick Rangers: Ross Glendinning; Lewis MacKinnon, Albert Watson, Steven Gordon (Curtis Allen, 79); Reece Glendinning, Joe Crowe (Mark Surgenor, 79), David Cushley, Ben Tilney; Danny Purkis, Emmett McGuckin, Nedas Maciulaitis.
Unused substitutes: Ben McCauley, Ben Buchanan-Rolleston, Jack Montgomery, Josh Andrews, Jayden Withers.
Bookings: Emmett McGuckin (76’), Nedas Maciulaitis (81’), Reece Glendinning (89’)
Crusaders: Jonny Tuffey; Billy Joe Burns, Josh Robinson, Daniel Larmour; Mal Smith (Robbie Weir, 46), Jude Winchester, Jordan Forsythe, Jarlath O’Rourke; Philip Lowry (Lloyd Anderson, 83); Paul Heatley, Jordan Owens (Adam Lecky, 64).
Unused substitutes: Jordan Williamson, James Teelan, Mikhail Kennedy, Jonathan James.
Bookings: Josh Robinson (58’), Paul Heatley (87’), Billy Joe Burns (89’), Daniel Larmour (90’)
Referee: Ian McNabb
Domino’s Pizza Man of the Match: Ben Tilney
