Month: September 2021

We invite Danske Bank Premiership Champions Linfield to Dixon Park tomorrow evening in the 2nd round of the Bet McLean League Cup.

Match Info

When: Tuesday 14^th September – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Bet McLean League Cup 2nd Round

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (adult) / £5 (concession) (U12 free entry with paying adult)

A reminder to season ticket holders that season tickets are not valid for cup games.

All supporters should be aware that there will be a strict gate policy; anyone leaving the ground during the game (including at half time) will not be able to get back into the ground.

Match Sponsor: Simpson Developments

Ball Sponsor: Ballyclare Fuels

The Opponents

Linfield come to Dixon Park following a 3-2 victory over Portadown in the Danske Bank Premiership at the weekend. They had to twice come from behind as Portadown led 2-1 at the break. Back came Linfield, however, on 67 minutes with Matt Green’s first goal for the club after he met Kirk Millar’s cross to turn it beyond Doherty. It then fell to Manzinga to claim the win for the visitors with five minutes to go when he got past a defender before unleashing a powerful drive into the net to grab his second of the game. The Blues have only played two league games with games being called off due to players away on international duty.

The Comrades

The Comrades got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 3-1 victory away to Queen’s University in the Lough 41 Championship. Three goals in the final 20 minutes helped Paul Harbinson’s men overcome the Students at the Dub. Liam McKenna once again popped up with the goods as he broke the deadlock with a 25-yard drive into the top corner. Ciaran Heggarty got his first league goal for the club just seven minutes later when the ball was slipped through to him and he confidently put the ball into the roof of the net. The students did pull one back before Ballyclare restored their two-goal cushion in stoppage time when Andrew Mooney knocked home the rebound after Adam Gray saw his initial penalty saved. Speaking on the upcoming game, Comrades skipper, Chris Ramsey said “It’s going to be a tough game. Linfield are the best team in the country, they’ve proved that over the last load of years and it’ll be tough for us. But we go into it with no pressure on us, we just have to go out and work hard and listen to how we’re being told to set up and if we stick to our shape, hopefully we can pull-off a bit of a surprise result.”

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in a competitive fixture was in the Irish Cup 5th Round in January 2019. A second-half goal from former Comrades player, Joel Cooper, was the only difference between the two sides on the day as Linfield progressed to the next round with a 1-0 victory at Windsor Park. Due to some heroic defending, the Comrades made it in at the break with the scores level at 0-0. Early in the second-half, Adam Gray had Ballyclare’s best chance of the game as a powerful shot from outside the box had Linfield ‘keeper, Roy Carroll, scrambling; the experienced international ‘keeper eventually got the ball under control though after his initial save bounced back into danger. Linfield’s persistence paid off as Casement’s deflected cross found the head of Andy Waterworth who flicked it on to Cooper and he headed in. The game finished 1-0 and Linfield progressed to the 6th round where they would face Crusaders.

We travel to The Dub tomorrow afternoon as we face Queen’s University in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 11^th September – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: The Dub

What: Lough 41 Championship

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

The Opponents

Queen’s University have had a tough start to the season to date, losing 5 of their opening 6 games with their only victory coming against Dundela. Last week, they played host to top of the league Newry City where The Students were on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline. Newry opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, the only goal in a close fought first half. And that was how it stayed until a minute into stoppage time when substitute Stephen Lawless bagged Newry’s second to make sure of the points for the visitors. The Comrades can be sure, however, that Queens’ league form doesn’t accurately reflect the quality of their team and Paul Harbinson’s men will need to be on top of their game if they want a result.

The Comrades

Paul Harbinson’s men travel to The Dub following last week’s 2-2 draw with Knockbreda. Liam McKenna continued his excellent form in front of goal as the full-back got both goals in the game, taking his tally to 5 goals in 7 games this season. Newcomer, Ian Fletcher, made his debut for the Comrades as he put in a solid performance at full-back. Speaking on the upcoming game, manager Paul Harbinson said “We are focused entirely on going to Queen’s and trying to improve on our performance. Let’s not talk about results, let’s talk about how our performance needs to improve, our concentration and our basics need to improve. That’s what we will be focused on until the game is over and then we’ll look to the next one.”

Last Time Out

We last faced Queen’s University just over a month ago in the Bet McLean League Cup first round. The Comrades progressed to the next round after defeating Queen’s 2-1. Comrades opened the scoring in the 29th minute. A great ball over the top from Elliot McKim discomforted the Queen’s defence and found Joe Tully. He then managed to slip the ball to Liam McKenna who made space to fire a great finish low into the bottom corner of the net from 7 yards for a goal on his competitive debut for the club. Comrades went in at the break with a narrow advantage, but it was the visitors who began the second half on the front foot. They got their reward with an equaliser in the 53rd minute when Matthew Hughes struck an excellent shot from 25 yards into the net giving Purcell little chance. Three minutes later however Comrades’ lead was restored. Liam McKenna played the ball into the box from a free kick near the by-line. Queen’s couldn’t clear it and it broke to Ciaran Heggarty who thumped his effort into the net from 8 yards for another goal for a club debutant. The final minutes of the match saw the visitors press for an equaliser, but the home defence held out well to seal the victory.

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

Match Info

When: Saturday 4^th September – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (adult) / £5 (concession) – Kids under 12 free entry with paying adult

The Opponents

Knockbreda come to Dixon Park following a 3-1 victory over Queen’s last Saturday. They were hot out of the blocks as Lee McGreevy scored within the opening minute before Ethan Devine made it 2-0 (the clock hadn’t even reached double figures yet). Their last away outing was to Wilgar Park, where Dundela fell victims to a very similar story, with Knockbreda running out 4-3 victors. Lee McGreevy needed just 20 seconds this time to find the back of the net and Knockbreda found themselves 3-0 up with 35 minutes gone. Knockbreda manager, Colin McIlwrath, will be urging his players to start like a house on fire once again as they visit Dixon Park this Saturday.

The Comrades

A late Liam McKenna strike was enough to see the Comrades squeeze to a narrow victory over HW Welders last Friday night. The game was a relatively quiet affair with both teams evenly matched. The signing announcement just before the game of experienced Irish League defender, Howard Beverland, was sure to give the squad a boost in confidence and the 31-year-old didn’t disappoint the Dixon Park faithful as he put in a man of the match performance. We’ve had a couple of outgoings since last week as well, with defender, Kyle Crawford, and young forward, Josh McGreevy, both leaving the club to join Ballymoney United. Paul Harbinson did manage to capture the signing of 24-year-old ex-League of Ireland full-back, Ian Fletcher, on deadline day. The manager will be hoping his new players gel quickly with the squad as we enter a jam-packed September schedule.

Last Time Out

Our last competitive fixture against Knockbreda was in March 2020 when the Comrades came away from Breda Park with all 3 points following a 3-1 victory. Gary Donnelly struck the opening for the Comrades on 11 minutes with a close-range finish after Nathan O’Neill found him with a cushioned header. Then, six minutes later, JB Dobbin made it 2-0 after sliding home the loose ball when ‘keeper, Lewis Deane, kept out efforts from Samuel McIlveen and Oisin Barr on the follow up. Knockbreda pulled one back on the stroke of half-time through Fra Rice after he nipped in to capitalise on a mix-up between Ben McCauley and Kevin Hagan. However, with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, O’Neill made sure of the points for the Comrades with a header from six yards after Dobbin crossed into the box. This turned out to be the last game we played before the league was called to a halt due to the global pandemic.