Pre-Match Guide | Dundela 22/10/22
We welcome Dundela to Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.
Match Info
When: Saturday 22nd October – Kick-Off 3:00pm
Where: Dixon Park
What: Lough 41 Championship
Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (OAP & U16) / £3 (U12 in the company of an adult)
Match Sponsor: Montgomery Transport Group
Ball Sponsor: Country Diner Catering
The Opponents
Last week, Dundela closed the gap on second place with a narrow defeat of Knockbreda at Wilgar Park. Niall Currie’s side moved in front midway through the first half when, from a Tony Kane corner, Michael Kerr rose highest to head past Jonah Mitchell into the corner of the net. ‘Breda levelled early in the second half through Tamer Atrach who finished off a good team move from six yards. But the Duns regained the lead – and ultimately the points – a couple of minutes later after Eamon Fyfe cut in from the right to beat Nicholl from an acute angle.
The Comrades
The Comrades came away with a point from the BMG Arena last week as they drew 1-1 with Annagh United. Paul Finnegan edged Ciaran McGurgan’s side in front on 18 minutes from Adam Glenny’s delivery. It was a lead they held until the closing moments when Darius Roohi headed home an equaliser from a Cathal Farren free-kick. The result keeps the Comrades in 7th position in the Lough 41 Championship.
Last Time Out
The last time these two sides met, just last month, the Comrades suffered the disappointment of a penalty shoot-out defeat to Dundela to exit the County Antrim Shield away at Wilgar Park. The home side started the strongest and took a deserved lead on 10 minutes when Igiehon received the ball in the box after an incisive thrust up the right and turned neatly to fire low into the far corner of the net. Dundela looked very capable of increasing their lead and they would have only for great goalkeeping from Declan Breen. The Comrades levelled the scores in the 68th minute when Joe Tully played a ball which eluded the home defence and set substitute Conall Curran free in the box and he coolly knocked the ball over the ‘keeper from 6 yards. Both sides pushed for a winner, however, it was the Comrades who may have come closest on the 89th minute when Darius Roohi played a great ball in from the left edge of the box which was met by a diving Joe Tully header from 9 yards that came out off the underside of the bar. Then, from the rebound, ‘keeper Cairns produced a great save to turn Conall Curran’s effort onto the bar. At the final whistle, the match moved straight to penalties to decide the winner. The hosts went first, and Magee scored, with Darius Roohi then levelling with Comrades’ opening penalty. However, it was Comrades who were the first to blink when Cairns saved Joe Tully’s effort which was Comrades second. All the next penalties were converted with Gary Donnelly and Conall Currran successful for Comrades until Dundela had the chance to wrap up victory with their fifth penalty. Goalkeeper Cairns stepped up to take it but was foiled by a save from Declan Breen. However, Cairns was to be the Dundela hero after all as he saved the next penalty taken by Elliot McKim to send his team through.
