We invite Loughgall to Dixon Park tomorrow in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 21^st August – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate as normal from 1pm – £8 (adult) / £5 (concession)

Reminder to all supporters that there will be a fun-day event (Ballyclare Comrades is Getting Active about Emotional Health & Wellbeing Event) taking place at Dixon Park on Saturday. Free entry from 11:30am-1:00pm (attendance at the event will also grant you free access to the game vs Loughgall). You can read more about the event here.

The Opponents

Loughgall come into the game having won 2 and lost 1 of their opening 3 league games, much like the Comrades. They come to Dixon Park following a 2-1 victory over Dergview last Saturday with goals from Andrew Hoey & Nedas Maciulaitis. The visitors are tipped to be in and around the promotion places come the end of the season and so will be looking for all 3 points come Saturday.

The Comrades

The Comrades come into the game following a heavy defeat to Annagh United last Saturday. A nightmare of a first half saw Ballyclare go in at the break 4-0 down and with only 10 men on the pitch. Elliot McKim was shown red within the first 20 minutes of the game and will now miss tomorrow’s game. Despite facing a mountain of a task in the second 45, Paul Harbinson’s men were much improved after the break and had reduced the deficit to 3 through skipper, Chris Ramsey, until a 90th minute wonder-strike from Ruari McDonald restored Annagh’s 4 goal lead. The manager spoke after the game about the ‘heart-breaking’ scoreline but believes it has helped to pull the squad ‘out of the clouds’ following two big victories in the opening games of the season. “Loughgall are, what we would consider, title contenders and so it’s another massive massive game for us ” said Harbinson.

Last Time Out

It was all square the last time these two sides met on 22^nd February 2020 as the Championship match at Dixon Park ended in a 1-1 draw. The Villagers needed just five minutes to open the scoring when Ross Hunter headed home from six yards after Peter Campbell had crossed from the left. Ballyclare responded positively, striking the woodwork through Ciaran Dobbin before Gary Donnelly carved out the equaliser on 24 minutes with a close-range finish after meeting a free-kick floated into the box. The Comrades enjoyed more of the better chances as the game went on but it was Loughgall who came closest to snatching all 3 points in stoppage time, had it not been for a great stop from ‘keeper, Ben McCauley.