Author: Scott

We travel to the BMG Arena tomorrow afternoon to take on Annagh United in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 16^th October – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: BMG Arena

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

The Opponents

Annagh currently sit in 4^th position in the Lough 41 Championship, just 3 points behind the Comrades. They go into tomorrow’s game following Tuesday night’s 2-1 AET victory over Armagh City to progress into the semi final of the Mid Ulster Cup. Last Saturday, they were in league action at The Dub where they took on hosts, Queen’s University. The visitors moved into the lead after just seven minutes when Stephen Murray chipped keeper Daniel Devine from an acute angle after latching onto a Ruairi McDonald flick. And Ciaran McGurgan’s side doubled their advantage five minutes before the break courtesy of Ryan Harpur’s tap in after the ball fell loose when Lee Upton’s initial header came back off an upright. The two first half goals were enough for Annagh as the game finished 2-0.

The Comrades

The Comrades travel to the BMG Arena following last Friday night’s 1-0 victory over Dundela at Dixon Park. Liam McKenna popped up with yet another important goal as the visitors made a mess from a throw-in deep in their own territory and an attempted clearance fell to Andrew Mooney near the by-line. He then played the ball across to McKenna who was free to knock it into the net from close range. In the end, the one goal was enough to give Comrades the victory in a tight match where their defensive strength on the night held them in good stead. Speaking on his side’s resolute defending on the night, Paul Harbinson said “How often have we spoken about how important it is to be solid at the back and have leaders on the pitch? With Howard Beverland and Chris Ramsey, you’ve two leaders who just want it. I mean there was times they were fighting each other for the ball, to win headers and to win tackles. Curtis Woods and Ian Fletcher came in and did their jobs and Ashton McDermott in front was really solid”. Speaking on tomorrow’s trip away to Annagh, Harbinson expects a “really, really tough battle on the tighter 3G pitch, so we’ll have to be focused”. The Comrades manager will be looking to avoid a repeat of August’s tie against Annagh which saw the Comrades 4-0 down at the break and down to 10 men. He spoke about the need to “remind the players of what we did, the mistakes we made and how easy we made it for Annagh, with no disrespect to Annagh, they’re doing extremely well”. With the first full set of Championship games now completed, the Comrades occupy third spot in the table, just 1 point behind Newry in second and 3 points behind Ards who are the current league leaders.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met, a disastrous first-half Comrades performance helped Annagh storm to a comprehensive 5-1 home victory. After an even opening few minutes, the pattern for the rest of the half was set in the 7th minute when Jack Ferguson attempted to clear a high ball played into the box but lost out to Duffin who got to the bouncing ball first and then had the simple task of finishing into the empty net. Things got much worse for Comrades on 18 minutes. Elliot McKim didn’t get enough on a header back to the ‘keeper allowing Murray to nip in and McKim then hauled him back and got sent off for denying a goal-scoring chance. In the 29th minute they doubled their lead, when they opened up the Comrades defence down the right before Duffin played the ball across for Murray who finished with a fine first-time effort from 16 yards. Three minutes later it was 3-0. Jack Ferguson was penalised for picking up a back pass and from the free kick inside the box Comrades weren’t alert enough, as the ball was played to the unmarked Campbell who finished from 12 yards. Comrades’ horror first half was rounded off in the 42nd minute with the concession of another goal. Claiming for a foul, they lost the ball cheaply on halfway, with Taylor taking full advantage to run forward and finish very well with a low shot from the edge of the box. The visitors’ improved second half performance earned them a consolation goal in the 78th minute when good persistence from Ciaran Heggarty and Chris Ramsey at the edge of the box allowed Ramsey to break through and drill the ball in from 11 yards. Annagh weren’t finished however and a minute into injury-time Ruairi McDonald struck a great low shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the net past the despairing dive of Ferguson.

We invite Dundela to Dixon Park tomorrow night for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Friday 8^th October – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

Match Sponsor: G.M Pressure Washing

Ball Sponsor: The Mortgage Shop, Ballyclare

The Opponents

Dundela have had a surprisingly poor start to the campaign and currently sit second from bottom in the Lough 41 Championship. However, the East Belfast side seemed to have turned a corner since the arrival of manager Niall Currie. They swept to a four-goal victory over neighbours HW Welders in the East Belfast derby at Wilgar Park last Saturday to record their first win in the Lough 41 Championship this season. Eoin Kane opened the scoring for the Duns as early as the second minute after meeting a free-kick to direct a header past keeper Ben McCauley. The Welders had the ball in the net soon after but it was ruled out offside, and they fell further behind on 20 minutes when Guillaume Keke headed home a cross from the left at the near post. That was how it stayed until Jay Magee added a third for Niall Currie’s side on 69 minutes following a goalmouth scramble. Keke then doubled his tally, and completed the scoring, with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining courtesy of a right-footed effort into bottom corner.

The Comrades

The Comrades got back to winning ways last Saturday with a 2-1 victory away to Dergview. An Andrew Mooney double secured the points for the Comrades. Scoreless at the break, both goals came midway through the second half. The 24-year-old opened the scoring on 63 minutes with a back post header six yards out after Tom Mathieson had knocked the ball over following a mazy run. And Mooney doubled his tally just five minutes later when, following a botched attempt at a clearance, he dispossessed a defender to tuck the ball past keeper Alan Buchanan. Benny Igiehon pulled one back for Dergview with ten minutes remaining but it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback. Howard Beverland & Ian Fletcher both returned to the starting line-up on Saturday following their injuries.

Last Time Out

December 2019 was the last time these two sides met as Dundela came away from Dixon Park with all 3 points. In the end it took just one goal to separate the two sides. The Duns got off to the brighter start with Jay Magee seeing Ballyclare keeper Ben McCauley doing well to tip his 20-yard free-kick over after eight minutes. Unfortunately, the first half turned out to be a scrappy affair with the next real effort of note not arriving until stoppage time when McCauley was on hand to deny Owain Beggs. Ballyclare had a great chance early in the second half when Joe Tully laid the ball off for Gary Donnelly 12 yards out but Ryan McBride did well to save. Dundela were next to threaten when, on 71 minutes, substitute Carl McComb was thwarted at the near post by McCauley while, at the other end, Tully fired over from seven yards. What proved to be the only goal of the game came with just less than a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when Tiarnan McNicholl fired home from just inside the area. Both sides had efforts late on with Tully and Beggs coming close but Dundela held on to secure the points.

We travel to Darragh Park tomorrow afternoon to take on Dergview in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 2^nd October – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Darragh Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

The Opponents

Dergview currently sit 9^th in the Lough 41 Championship, 5 points behind the Comrades in 5^th. They go into tomorrow’s game following a 3-2 defeat away to Knockbreda last Saturday. Goals from Benny Igiehon and Cathal Farren in the second half threatened to undo Knockbreda’s 3-0 lead from the first half but the hosts were able to hold out. Dergview have only been beaten once at home this season, a 2-0 defeat to Newry City, and recently took Danske Bank Premiership side, Carrick Rangers, to extra time in the Bet McLean League Cup. Manager, Tommy Canning, will be looking for a reaction from his side following last week’s defeat.

The Comrades

The Comrades go to Darragh Park following last week’s disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Ards. After a somewhat cautious start to the game at both ends, it fell to Patrick Cafolla to open the scoring just before the half-hour mark when he found the top corner from around 20 yards from goal. Ards then doubled their advantage on 43 minutes through Ross Arthurs to take a commanding lead into the break. Andrew Mooney came closest in the second half for the Comrades when he rattled the crossbar. However, Calvin McCurry made sure of the points for Ards four minutes from time. Paul Harbinson made no excuses following the game and said his side were poor and must improve on consistency. Speaking on tomorrow’s trip away to Dergview, Paul Harbinson said “We’re going to have to go and work hard on our competition as Dergview have been playing fantastic football, in the middle of the park they dominate, and we didn’t do that tonight (against Ards) and haven’t done that for a while. We need to question ourselves and look at what we do next”.

Last Time Out

January 2020 was the last time these two sides met in the Championship. Two quickfire goals were enough for the Comrades to get the better of Dergview at Dixon Park. The sides traded chances during the opening phases with Joe Tully dragging an effort wide for Ballyclare while Paul Smith just failed to hit the target for the visitors. Dergview keeper, Alan Buchanan, was then called into action to turn a Gary Donnelly shot around the upright while Jordan Malone headed just over later in the first half. Ciaran Dobbin came closest early in the second half when his header from a Donnelly corner was touched onto the crossbar. But, on 57 minutes, the Comrades eventually found a way through when Donnelly dinked Buchanan from eight yards after connecting with a Tully through ball. And, around sixty seconds later, it was 2-0 when Tully got his name on the scoresheet with a 20-yard drive. Dergview attempted to hit back; Emmett McNabb fired just wide from six yards while Smith was denied by Ben McCauley. The home keeper came to Ballyclare’s rescue again in the closing moments to thwart Smith again, but Dobbin almost added a third for the home side in stoppage time when his effort came off the keeper and onto the bar.

We travel to Clandeboye Park tomorrow night to take on Ards in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Friday 24^th September – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Clandeboye Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (Concession)

The Opponents

Ards are currently sitting 3^rd in the Lough 41 Championship, with an identical start to the season as the Comrades with 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in their opening 8 games. They come into tomorrow night’s game following a 2-1 defeat away to Institute last Saturday. Institute stunned Ards with a dramatic stoppage comeback to claim victory at the Brandywell. The visitors, going into the game in second spot, moved in front on 29 minutes after Ross Arthurs smashed the ball home following a scramble in the box. It was a lead they held for almost the remainder of the game until that heart stopping finale despite playing the remaining quarter-of-an-hour with ten men following Christopher Crane’s dismissal for an off the ball incident involving ‘Stute’s Joel Gorman. ‘Stute levelled in the 90th minute in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Ards keeper Brian Neeson came out to punch a corner clear but the ball came off Jack Millar and looped back over Neeson into the net. Then, in the fifth minute of added time, Brendan McLaughlin fired ‘Stute’s winner into the roof of the net amid unbelievable scenes. Ards will be looking to get back to winning ways at Clandeboye Park tomorrow night.

The Comrades

The Comrades have been in fine form recently with 4 wins in their last 6 outings. The only defeat in that period has been to Danske Bank Premiership champions, Linfield. Tomorrow night’s game is a quick turnaround from Tuesday night’s victory over Queen’s University in the ToalsBet.com Co Antrim Shield. Having played Queen’s 3 times now this season, manager Paul Harbinson spoke of the challenge to “motivate players and get them up for a game where they are naturally psychologically thinking that they’ve already won this and it should be an easy game. But it’s never an easy game, Queen’s always come with a good plan, they play good football and they were really hard at it. So it’s a psychological one and thankfully we were on the right side of it.” Matthew Herron grabbed his first competitive goal for the club on Tuesday evening, while Andrew Mooney took home the Man of the Match award following his 2 goals on the night. Speaking on the quick turnaround for tomorrow night’s upcoming fixture, Paul Harbinson said “It’s a really really quick turnaround, we’ve done our homework as we always do and we’ll hope that the information that we’ve got is the right information. We’re going there with as much ammunition as we ever do, yes it’s a quick turnaround but that’s football, get on with it.” Full back, Ian Fletcher, is set to miss the next couple of weeks following an injury to the head last Saturday, while the Comrades manager is hopeful that Howard Beverland will be back in contention for tomorrow night’s squad.

Last Time Out

January 2020 was the last time these two sides met where they played out a 2-2 draw at Clandeboye Park. The Comrades moved in front after 20 minutes when a Jordan Malone free-kick into the box was adjudged to have been handled by William Armstrong with Joe Tully stepping up to convert from the spot-kick that followed. Kym Nelson levelled for Ards just after the half-hour mark with a header from six yards after he was picked out by a set piece from the left. Ballyclare regained the advantage a couple of minutes from the break with Tully’s second of the afternoon, a lob over keeper Brian Neeson after Tom Mathieson had delivered a long ball forward. Ards might have restored parity early in the second half when Michael McLellan sent a long range effort against the crossbar but they did equalise again just before the hour thanks to Craig McMillen’s rifled finish after a David McAllister effort rebounded out to him.