Pre-Match Guide | Loughgall 07/03/23
We welcome Loughgall to Dixon Park tomorrow evening for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.
Match Info
When: Tuesday 7th March – 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: Metal Technology
Ball Sponsor: SM Plumbing & Heating
The Opponents
Loughgall stretched their lead at the top of the Championship with a narrow defeat of Newington at Lakeview Park last week. Although scoreless at the break the Villagers came close through Caolan Loughran and Tiernan Kelly. Kelly then went one better with the only goal of the game eight minutes into the second half after sending a 25-yard drive past keeper Nathan Kerr. Further efforts followed from Jamie Rea and Aaron Duke as the game progressed but, in the end, that one goal proved to be enough.
The Comrades
The Comrades narrowly lost out to Ballymena United at the weekend after 2 goals in extra time saw the Ballyclare men bow out of the Irish Cup at the Quarter Finals stage. Caomhan McGuinness shot the Championship side into a first-half lead with a shot that almost ripped out the netting and, a shock looked on the cards until United skipper Josh Kelly levelled just after the hour. Minutes before the 90 were up, McGuinness brought down Steven McCullough in the box and United were awarded a penalty. Davy McDaid took on the responsibility, but goalkeeper Declan Breen produced a marvellous save to send the game into extra-time. Only minutes into extra-time McDaid buckled under a challenge from substitute Ian Fletcher and substitute Andy McGrory – the club’s recognised penalty taker – made no mistake this time. But it was left to McDaid to seal the deal with a spectacular solo effort, spinning away on a 40-yard dash, before beating Breen with a low shot.
Last Time Out
The last time these two sides met in January, Loughgall hit two late goals to come from behind to defeat Ballyclare Comrades at Lakeview Park. The Villagers had the ball in the net after just three minutes but Benjamin Magee’s finish was ruled out offside. The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark, however, when Ballyclare’s Gary Donnelly converted from the spot after Callum Ferris had been brought down inside the area. Ballyclare were reduced to ten men on 60 minutes after Ferris was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. It took Loughgall until the 86th minute to make their numerical advantage count through Nathaniel Ferris’ equaliser following a period of pressure. Then, deep into stoppage time, Pablo Andrade tucked home the winner after a scramble in front of goal.
