Ballymena look to have an opening as Igor Rutkowski plays in Jack O'Reilly on the right hand side of the penalty area but he delays his shot and the opening eventually comes to nothing.

Another chance for Carrick as Joe Crowe's long throw flicks off the head of Ballymena's Aaron Jarvis and falls to Mikey Place.

However, he takes a touch, meaning that Sean Murray has time to get across to block his effort.

Keevan Hawthorne has been prominent for the visitors as we approach the half hour, this time skipping past Rowan McDonald before forcing Ryan Schofield to come out and catch his cross.

With a remarkable sense of inevitability following that last tussle, Ballymena's Kian Corbally is booked for a foul on Joe Crowe.

An almost comical moment as Carrick's Joe Crowe lifts Ballymena's Kian Corbally and then dumps him on the touchline in front of the benches.

A few smiles and a stern talking-to from Steven Gregg later and play is back under way.

Glenavon with their first spell of pressure and they go close to opening the scoring.

Paul McGovern with a free-kick from the left that lands on the toe of Harry Murphy inside the six-yard area but the ball runs away from the defender and out for a goal-kick.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Keevan Hawthorne, with a delicate touch, sets himself up for a shot but his effort is straight down the throat of Coleraine keeper Ryan Schofield.

First threat on goal and it comes the way of the Crues.

Fraser Bryden manages to get a cross in from the right but, just as a Crusader attacker threatens to get his head on the ball, Harry Murphy manages to flick the ball away to safety before the referee blows for a free-kick.

Cliftonville goalkeeper PJ Morrison has to be alert to smother after Johnny Addis gets a touch on a Will Patching cross.

Robbie Weir - back playing for the Crues for the first time since September - has been influential so far, spreading the ball across the pitch at will.

Declan Caddell will be pleased to have his skipper back to offer some much-needed leadership on the pitch.

Ben Wylie goes tumbling in the box, but referee Ian McNabb is unimpressed.

Play continues.

Chances at both ends.

First, Johnny Addis gets a vital interception on a Joel Cooper cross to deny Matthew Shevlin before, at the other end, Ryan Schofield parries away a Liam McStravick effort.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

A hefty collision between David Toure and Paul Heatley has the Ballymena fans baying for a card for the Carrick player, after that early caution for Aaron Jarvis.

Referee Steven Gregg keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion and Heatley is able to play on after receiving treatment.

No clear-cut chances for either side in the opening five minutes at Seaview, but both teams have looked sharp in attack.

Carrick should be in front inside six minutes as Paul Heatley crosses from the left and Rangers striker Danny Gibson - with the goal at his mercy - miscues his effort wide of the post.

Will Patching, who has proven his worth from the dead ball already this season, misses the target from a free-kick some 25 yards from goal following a foul on Matthew Shevlin.

Paul Heatley takes aim from outside the penalty area, but his shot is straight at Ballymena keeper Brad Wade.

Ballymena's Aaron Jarvis picks up an early yellow card for a foul on Joe Crowe in midfield.

Carrick's Joe Crowe curls a free-kick nor far over the crossbar from 25 yards in the first action of the game.

A chance for the home side inside the opening 20 seconds but Ben Wylie's shot is easily gathered by Cliftonville keeper PJ Morrison.