Stuart King hails David Healy after his Carrick Rangers side pick Linfield’s pocket for draw
Linfield 3 Carrick Rangers 3
Carrick Rangers striker Danny Purkis celebrates scoring against Linfield
Under-fire Carrick Rangers boss Stuart King doffed his cap in the direction of David Healy after picking the pocket of the former Northern Ireland star at Windsor Park yesterday.
Following their nine-goal drubbing by Crusaders in midweek, King had the task of picking his boys off the canvas for their visit to the lion’s den – but what a job he did.
In a pulsating, entertaining and, at times a madcap Sports Direct Premiership encounter, Rangers went toe-to-toe with Linfield and almost did the unthinkable – leave with three points.
But no-one could deny them the point they so richly deserved. King and his men were given a standing ovation from the loyal pocket of fans at the finish.
Striker Danny Purkis, signed in the summer from Glentoran, bagged a delicious double after David Cushley had shot the visitors into an early lead with a thunderbolt.
Healy’s men recovered and levelled through Chris Shields’ spot kick before taking the lead on two occasions, courtesy of goals from Matthew Clarke and Ben Hall.
But gutsy Carrick were in no mood to throw in the towel, and it was left to that man Purkis to display his predatory instincts, heading home a cross from Nedas Maciulaitis with nine minutes left on the clock.
“What a performance, we were outstanding,” gushed King. “I’m so proud of those boys.
“I took a lot of flak... the players took a lot of flak after our result at Seaview on Tuesday, but what a reaction. I’m absolutely buzzing with the display.
“I was hurt, I hadn’t slept for days after it. But the first person to ring me on Wednesday morning was David Healy. Yes, we played together at Preston and we are friends, but I
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