Duncan Ferguson still awaits his first win as Glentoran boss after his side were held to a 0-0 draw by a battling Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.

Carrick dominated possession as the game progressed with the visitors failing to impose themselves, although they did hit the crossbar in the dying seconds through substitute Cal Weatherup.

Glentoran threatened early on when Jarlath O'Rourke swung the ball in from the right and defender Ethan Brown rose highest to win the header, but it dipped just wide of the right-hand upright.

Ten minutes later and it was Carrick who came close to breaking the deadlock.

Paul Heatley delivered a corner from the left that Glentoran didn't deal with and it fell to Luke McCullough eight yards out, but the skipper's effort was cleared off the line by Jack Malone.

Soon after, the hosts should have gone ahead when Danny Gibson broke down the right before pulling the ball back to Heatley, who, unmarked, couldn't make a clean connection with the ball and it ran harmlessly through to Andrew Mills.

The Glens then went close on 27 minutes as a cross from the left was headed towards goal by the returning Pat Hoban at the back post, but Nathan Gartside stood tall to parry the ball away to safety.

Ten minutes after the restart, Carrick thought they should have had a penalty when Adam Lecky went down in the box under a challenge from Brown, but referee Tony Clarke waved play on.

Glentoran passed up their final chances in stoppage time as Aaron McEneff forced Gartside into a fine save and Weatherup hit the top of the crossbar with a header, but they were forced to settle for a point.