Month: October 2022

We travel to the Blanchflower Stadium tomorrow evening to take on Harland & Wolff Welders in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Friday 28^th October – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Blanchflower Stadium

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate

The Opponents

HW Welders picked up their first win under new boss Paul Kee with a three goal victory over Knockbreda last week. Jonny Frazer fired the Welders in front on 36 minutes after connecting with a header from the left at the back post. Charlie Dornan made it 2-0 on 69 minutes after his header from a corner crept over the line before, a few minutes after that, Matthew Ferguson got on the end of a through ball to smash home the third for the Welders.

The Comrades

A storming second half saw The Comrades come from 2 goals down to beat Dundela 5-2 at Dixon Park last week. Niall Currie’s side raced into a two-goal lead when a Tony Kane free-kick came off home defender Caomhan McGuinness early on followed by a Benny Igiehon nodded finish before half-an-hour was up. Home skipper Ian Fletcher reduced the deficit just before the break with a well taken free-kick, and this inspired Ballyclare to go on to claim the points through Darius Roohi, Cathal Farren and Calvin McCurry in the second half. Roohi equalised following a goal mouth scramble, with Farren edging Ballyclare in front with a lovely finish after an hour. McCurry then added a fourth on 77 minutes with a dink over Neil Shields before Roohi doubled his tally deep into stoppage time.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in February 2022 at the Blanchflower Stadium, the Welders came away the victors. Ballyclare started brightly and created a number of half chances during the opening exchanges through Kyle Beggs and Caiolan Brennan. However, somewhat against the run of play, the deadlock was broken on 28 minutes when Gary Lavery fired the Welders in front with an effort from distance which went low and hard under keeper Richard Purcell into the bottom corner. Then, on the hour, Jonny Frazer made it 2-0 with a sweeping right foot finish from just inside the area after Scott McMillan had crossed from the right. The Comrades pulled a goal back ten minutes after that. Brennan sent a corner over from the left which Jason Johnston connected with to head home at the back post.

We welcome Dundela to Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 22^nd October – Kick-Off 3:00pm

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: Montgomery Transport Group

Ball Sponsor: Country Diner Catering

The Opponents

Last week, Dundela closed the gap on second place with a narrow defeat of Knockbreda at Wilgar Park. Niall Currie’s side moved in front midway through the first half when, from a Tony Kane corner, Michael Kerr rose highest to head past Jonah Mitchell into the corner of the net. ‘Breda levelled early in the second half through Tamer Atrach who finished off a good team move from six yards. But the Duns regained the lead – and ultimately the points – a couple of minutes later after Eamon Fyfe cut in from the right to beat Nicholl from an acute angle.

The Comrades

The Comrades came away with a point from the BMG Arena last week as they drew 1-1 with Annagh United. Paul Finnegan edged Ciaran McGurgan’s side in front on 18 minutes from Adam Glenny’s delivery. It was a lead they held until the closing moments when Darius Roohi headed home an equaliser from a Cathal Farren free-kick. The result keeps the Comrades in 7^th position in the Lough 41 Championship.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met, just last month, the Comrades suffered the disappointment of a penalty shoot-out defeat to Dundela to exit the County Antrim Shield away at Wilgar Park. The home side started the strongest and took a deserved lead on 10 minutes when Igiehon received the ball in the box after an incisive thrust up the right and turned neatly to fire low into the far corner of the net. Dundela looked very capable of increasing their lead and they would have only for great goalkeeping from Declan Breen. The Comrades levelled the scores in the 68th minute when Joe Tully played a ball which eluded the home defence and set substitute Conall Curran free in the box and he coolly knocked the ball over the ‘keeper from 6 yards. Both sides pushed for a winner, however, it was the Comrades who may have come closest on the 89th minute when Darius Roohi played a great ball in from the left edge of the box which was met by a diving Joe Tully header from 9 yards that came out off the underside of the bar. Then, from the rebound, ‘keeper Cairns produced a great save to turn Conall Curran’s effort onto the bar. At the final whistle, the match moved straight to penalties to decide the winner. The hosts went first, and Magee scored, with Darius Roohi then levelling with Comrades’ opening penalty. However, it was Comrades who were the first to blink when Cairns saved Joe Tully’s effort which was Comrades second. All the next penalties were converted with Gary Donnelly and Conall Currran successful for Comrades until Dundela had the chance to wrap up victory with their fifth penalty. Goalkeeper Cairns stepped up to take it but was foiled by a save from Declan Breen. However, Cairns was to be the Dundela hero after all as he saved the next penalty taken by Elliot McKim to send his team through.

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

Match Info

When: Saturday 15^th October – Kick-Off 3:00pm

Where: BMG Arena

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate

The Opponents

Annagh have had a strong start to the Lough 41 Championship season and currently sit in second place, 3 points behind league leaders Loughgall. Their most recent outing saw them bow out of the Euro Electrix Mid Ulster Cup with a 5-1 defeat to Danske Bank Premiership side, Dungannon Swifts.

The Comrades

Last week, the Comrades fell victim to league leaders Loughgall who remained three points clear and unbeaten following a four-goal victory at Dixon Park. Scoreless at the break, Championship player of the month Nedas Maciulaitis edged the Villagers in front on the hour after he was quickest to react to the loose ball from a Nathaniel Ferris effort. He then made it 2-0 nine minutes later after connecting with an Ally Teggart pass … and Teggart himself got on the scoresheet after that with a deflected finish from just outside the box. Benji Magee completed the scoring with a couple of minutes remaining just after Ryan Masterson had smashed an effort against the crossbar.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met was in January 2022. Lee Upton scored both goals as Annagh United came from behind to defeat The Comrades at Dixon Park. Annagh came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening ten minutes in an otherwise scrappy start when Craig Taylor clipped the crossbar from a free-kick. However, it fell to the Comrades to find a way through when, on 27 minutes, Tom Mathieson turned the ball home with his left foot after Matthew Herron had cut the ball across from the right. The visitors levelled just before the hour with Upton’s first of the game when he rose highest on the edge of the six yard box to nod home a high free-kick into the area. Then, a quarter-of-an-hour after that, he bagged what proved to be the winner with another close range header.

We welcome Loughgall to Dixon Park tomorrow afternoon for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Saturday 8^th October – Kick-Off 3:00pm

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: Terry Coulter Cars

Ball Sponsor: Gracehill After School Club

The Opponents

Loughgall are flying high at the top of the Lough 41 Championship and they defeated Danske Bank Premiership outfit, Glenavon, during the week in the Bet McLean League Cup. Following a goalless first half, Pablo Andrade put Loughgall ahead two minutes into the second half before Mark Patton got a second late on. Glenavon did pull one back through Jack Malone but this proved only to be a consolation goal.

The Comrades

Comrades exited the League Cup after losing to the odd goal in three to Danske Bank Premiership opponents Newry City. The visitors dominated the first half and their constant pressure brought the goal they deserved on 40 minutes when Gary Donnelly lost the ball deep in the Comrades half and it was played to Hughes who finished with ease from 5 yards. The second half saw Comrades compete better than they had in the first 45 minutes and Newry no longer had things quite their own way. However. there was not much threat on the visitors’ goal until the 70th minute when an equaliser was scored. Harry Adair did well to win the ball on the halfway line and then played it down the left wing, allowing Kyle Beggs to run onto it. Beggs then took on and beat a defender to get into the box before shooting from 8 yards and with the help of a deflection his effort eluded the ‘keeper and found the net. Comrades were now right back in the game and for while it looked as if they could produce a shock result. However, on 85 minutes Newry regained the lead, scoring what was to be the winning goal. Healy was given space to shoot from the edge of the box, his powerful shot forcing Richard Purcell to parry the ball out away from the goal. Unluckily for the hosts, the ball fell to a Newry man who played it across the front of the goal where Carville was there to turn it into the net from close range.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met was in March 2022 when the Comrades conceded a late sucker punch as Conor Kerr struck deep into stoppage time to secure a point for Loughgall from Ballyclare Comrades’ visit to Lakeview Park. The visitors moved in front after half-an-hour under Liam Hassin. But their victory hopes were dashed in the 95th minute when Kerr popped up to equalise for the Villagers.

We welcome Newry City to Dixon Park tomorrow evening for a Last 16 clash in the Bet McLean League Cup.

Match Info

When: Tuesday 4^th October – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Bet McLean League Cup

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

Reminder to season ticket holders that season tickets are not valid for cup fixtures.

Match Sponsor: GM Exterior Cleaning Services

Ball Sponsor: David Strain

The Opponents

Newry currently occupy 9^th spot in the Danske Bank Premiership with 2 wins in their opening 8 games. Their last outing was against Cliftonville at the weekend where Rory Hale bagged a first half hat-trick as Cliftonville moved to the top of the table with victory at Solitude. Hale opened the scoring after ten minutes when he curled the ball into the net in off an upright after the visiting defence failed to clear a corner. Ryan Curran made it 2-0 on 16 minutes from the rebound following a Ronan Hale effort which keeper Steven Maguire did well to save. The Hale brothers then combined six minutes after that for Cliftonville’s third with Rory finishing the move off with a well taken close range finish. Then, in stoppage time, Rory laid claim to the match ball with a simple tap in after more good work from Ronan down the left. Newry might have grabbed a consolation midway through the second half only for James Teelan to strike the post while Noel Healy couldn’t keep his follow up on target.

The Comrades

The Comrades and Warrenpoint Town shared the spoils at Dixon Park at the weekend. The home side moved in front with just over a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock. Calvin McCurry broke clear of the visiting defence but was brought down by Daniel Byrne just outside the box and, from the resultant free-kick, Joe Tully fired into the far top corner. Luke Walsh might have levelled soon after only to hit the back post with a header from a corner. However Walsh did equalise for ‘Point eight minutes from time on the rebound after Byrne had nodded a Kealan Dillon free-kick against an upright. ‘Point thought they had snatched the win deep into stoppage time but Joshua Wilson’s finish was ruled out offside.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met, back in March 2022, Newry City took a step closer to the Lough 41 Championship title with a comprehensive defeat of the Comrades at Dixon Park. Darren Mullen’s side went four points clear at the top of the table, however, they had to come from behind to get the better of Ballyclare after Tom Mathieson had opened the scoring on 40 minutes after being played through by Michael Smith. Newry levelled eight minutes after the break, however, when James Teelan gave Jack Ferguson no chance with a decent finish before, three minutes after that, Darren King got on the end of a Daniel Hughes cross to edge the visitors into the lead. They extended their advantage on 69 minutes through half-time substitute Declan Carville’s looping header at the back post, with the same player adding a fourth soon after with a strike through a crowded area into the corner of the net. Then, with three minutes remaining, Hughes completed the scoring with an effort into the far corner.