We welcome Annagh United to Dixon Park this evening for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Tuesday 24^th January – Kick-Off 7:45pm

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: Abbey Real Estate

Ball Sponsor: Mortgage Shop Ballyclare

The Opponents

Annagh United moved back to the top of the Lough 41 Championship on Saturday despite being held to a scoreless draw at home to bottom of the table Knockbreda. Ciaran McGurgan’s side capitalised on morning leaders Loughgall losing to Dundela to leapfrog them into pole position. They could have claimed all three points when awarded a spot-kick early in the second half but recent arrival Gerard Storey could only send the penalty wide of the left post.

The Comrades

The Comrades had a weekend to forget with a 5-1 away defeat to Harland & Wolff Welders. The Welders opened the scoring on 7 minutes with a free kick 20 yards out as McLellan’s shot went underneath the wall and into the net past the unsighted ‘keeper. On 42 minutes the Comrades consolidated their position with a second goal. Comrades’ defence was completely exposed when McLellan got free to deliver a ball in from the right to where Ferguson was unmarked at the back post to head in a simple finish. The Comrades came out much more on the front foot in the second half and two minutes into the half they pulled a goal back when Calvin McCurry played a dangerous ball into the 6-yards box which the ‘keeper blocked, but the ball rebounded off a defender and into the net for an own goal. On 59 minutes the wind was completely taken from the visitors’ sails as the hosts re-established a two-goal advantage. Comrades were asleep at a free- kick as Welders took it short and then played the ball across to where Ferguson slid in unchallenged at the far post to score from close range. On 70 minutes the hosts grabbed a fourth. The ball was given away cheaply by Comrades inside their own half and then quickly played up to McLellan, who quickly fired in a good finish from just inside the box. Comrades’ misery was completed two minutes into added time when they conceded a fifth goal with McClay striking a fine effort from outside the box.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in October, both teams had to settle for a point at the BMG Arena. 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.