Month: August 2021

We invite Harland & Wolff Welders to Dixon Park tomorrow night in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Friday 27^th August – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (adult) / £5 (concession)

Club Shop will be open before the game and during half time.

The Opponents

The Welders have had a mixed bag of results since the start of the season. They started with a thumping 5-0 victory over Queen’s in the opening week and then narrowly lost out to both Newry City and Ards the following week. However, Gary Smyth’s men got back to winning ways last weekend with a 1-0 victory away to Knockbreda and so they’ll be looking to carry that momentum into tomorrow night’s game.

The Comrades

Much like our opponents, the Comrades come into Friday night’s fixture with a mixed bag of results since the start of the season. Paul Harbinson believes a ‘lack of heart’ was our downfall in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Loughgall. The manager will be hoping that the arrival of Tom Mathieson and return of Adam McCart freshens up the changing room again and helps bring back the form from the opening games of the season (could we even see another new face arriving at Dixon Park before tomorrow night… who knows?). Elliot McKim will be available for selection again following his suspension in the game vs Annagh United.

Last Time Out

January 4^th 2020 was the last time these two sides met in the Irish Cup 5^th Round at Dixon Park. The Welders took a 1-0 lead into the break after a mistake at the back left their striker 1 on 1, only to calmly slot the ball past the on-rushing ‘keeper. The Welders had most of the clear-cut chances in the 2^nd half but it was the Comrades who were most clinical as a lovely turn and low shot from Lukasz Adamczyk found the bottom corner to draw the scores level before Adamczyk got involved again, this time teeing up Adam Gray with only minutes remaining. The Comrades held out for a 2-1 victory and progressed to the 6^th round.

We invite Loughgall to Dixon Park tomorrow in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 21^st August – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate as normal from 1pm – £8 (adult) / £5 (concession)

Reminder to all supporters that there will be a fun-day event (Ballyclare Comrades is Getting Active about Emotional Health & Wellbeing Event) taking place at Dixon Park on Saturday. Free entry from 11:30am-1:00pm (attendance at the event will also grant you free access to the game vs Loughgall). You can read more about the event here.

The Opponents

Loughgall come into the game having won 2 and lost 1 of their opening 3 league games, much like the Comrades. They come to Dixon Park following a 2-1 victory over Dergview last Saturday with goals from Andrew Hoey & Nedas Maciulaitis. The visitors are tipped to be in and around the promotion places come the end of the season and so will be looking for all 3 points come Saturday.

The Comrades

The Comrades come into the game following a heavy defeat to Annagh United last Saturday. A nightmare of a first half saw Ballyclare go in at the break 4-0 down and with only 10 men on the pitch. Elliot McKim was shown red within the first 20 minutes of the game and will now miss tomorrow’s game. Despite facing a mountain of a task in the second 45, Paul Harbinson’s men were much improved after the break and had reduced the deficit to 3 through skipper, Chris Ramsey, until a 90th minute wonder-strike from Ruari McDonald restored Annagh’s 4 goal lead. The manager spoke after the game about the ‘heart-breaking’ scoreline but believes it has helped to pull the squad ‘out of the clouds’ following two big victories in the opening games of the season. “Loughgall are, what we would consider, title contenders and so it’s another massive massive game for us ” said Harbinson.

Last Time Out

It was all square the last time these two sides met on 22^nd February 2020 as the Championship match at Dixon Park ended in a 1-1 draw. The Villagers needed just five minutes to open the scoring when Ross Hunter headed home from six yards after Peter Campbell had crossed from the left. Ballyclare responded positively, striking the woodwork through Ciaran Dobbin before Gary Donnelly carved out the equaliser on 24 minutes with a close-range finish after meeting a free-kick floated into the box. The Comrades enjoyed more of the better chances as the game went on but it was Loughgall who came closest to snatching all 3 points in stoppage time, had it not been for a great stop from ‘keeper, Ben McCauley.

The Comrades travel to Tandragee Road this Saturday in our latest Lough 41 Championship clash; this time the hosts are Annagh United.

Match Info

When: Saturday 14^th August 2021 – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Tandragee Road

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate, £8 (adult) / £5 concession

The Opponents

Annagh have been the victim of injury-time heartbreak in the opening 2 league games of the season. A victory against Ards on the opening day looked very much on the cards until they conceded with 6 minutes to go to level the scores at 2-2. They then received a further sucker-punch as Ards scored in the dying moments of the game to snatch victory away from Annagh. A similar story occurred on Tuesday evening where Knockbreda hosted Annagh at Breda Park. Goals from Campbell and Duffin had Annagh United 3-2 ahead right up until the 93^rd minute when Knockbreda delivered another sucker punch blow, and the game finished all square. Annagh will be looking to chase those lost points when we travel to Tandragee Road on Saturday.

The Comrades

Another solid display on Tuesday evening against Institute seen the Comrades run out 3-1 winners and has us sitting top of the Lough 41 Championship going into gameweek 3. Manager, Paul Harbinson, hailed the professionalism of his squad following the long-distance travel to the Brandywell on Tuesday evening. Liam McKenna got the first goal direct from a corner kick, following a little confusion as to whether it was an own-goal or not. “His delivery is frightening,” said the boss “I love the fact he is so confident stepping up to every ball and we just know we’re going to get something from it.” Adam Gray and Joe Tully once again found the scoresheet and seem to have hit the ground running at the start of this campaign. There’s a long way to go for the Comrades but they will be hungry for more success as we travel to Tandragee Road tomorrow afternoon.

Last Time Out

Our last trip to Tandragee Road was a successful one as we ran out 4-0 winners against Annagh United in the 2016/17 Championship season. Annagh later went on to get relegated that season and have remained in the Premier Intermediate League until last season when they were promoted back into the Championship following the mathematical formula used by NIFL to award automatic promotion places.