We welcome Loughgall to Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.
Match Info
When: Saturday 30th October – Kick-Off 3:00pm
Where: Dixon Park
What: Lough 41 Championship
Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)
Match Sponsor: Terry Coulter Cars
Ball Sponsor: Anonymous
The Opponents
Loughgall go into tomorrow’s game off the back of last week’s 1-0 victory over league leaders, Ards. Scoreless at the break, the only goal of the game came on the hour mark when Andrew Hoey ran onto a flick into the area to take the ball past Conall McGrandles and fire beyond Brian Neeson inside the near post. Loughgall could have doubled their advantage moments later but Pablo Andrade turned his effort against the upright. Ards ended the game with ten men following Jaimie McGovern’s dismissal for a challenge on Dale Malone. Loughgall currently sit 5th in the Lough 41 Championship table, 5 points behind Ballyclare Comrades.
The Comrades
Paul Harbinson’s men had to be content with a point from a goalless draw against Institute at Dixon Park last Saturday. The visitors had a great chance to move in front just before the hour. Curtis Woods was adjudged to have upended Dunne inside the box but, from the penalty that followed, Liam Walsh could only look on as his effort was turned away by the diving Richard Purcell. The Comrades were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes when Howard Beverland was dismissed for a challenge on Liam Walsh but ‘Stute failed to take advantage and, indeed, have John Connolly to thank with a couple of saves late in the game to deny Liam McKenna and Ciarán Dobbin. Following the game, Harbinson said “I think we have to look at that as points dropped. That’s a game at home where we are expecting to go in and perform to the level that we did last week and if we do that, maybe we get more out of the game and we certainly expect to work harder than we did, so it’s an overwhelming disappointment”. Harbinson will be looking for his squad to return to the form that saw them put 4 past Annagh United the week previous.
Last Time Out
Loughgall took home all 3 points the last time these two sides met back in August with a 2-0 win at Dixon Park. The first quarter of the game was evenly balanced with chances at a premium. However, Comrades had an excellent opportunity to take the lead on 21 minutes when Andrew Mooney ran onto a long ball played from deep by Ciarán Dobbin and outpaced a covering defender to run in on goal, but he couldn’t beat the ‘keeper with his effort from inside the box. Loughgall hit the front in the 28th minute. A ball over the top caught out the Comrades defence and it was then played in from the wing to Hoey who made space and struck an excellent finish just inside the post from the edge of the box. The home side continue to frustrate their supporters and failed to test the Loughgall ‘keeper in the latter stages of the match. Their disappointing day was completed a minute into injury time when the visitors sealed the victory with a second goal. They all too easily won the ball in the centre of the field from a Comrades clearance, and it was then played through to Forde who raced clear and finished confidently from fourteen yards.
