Month: February 2023

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

Match Info

When: Saturday 25^th February – 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: Kenny Homes

The Opponents

Dundela returned to winning ways with victory over Ballinamallard United at Ferney Park last week. The Duns moved in front just after the half-hour mark when Peter McKiernan knocked home the rebound after the ball hand been initially saved by Jack Le-Moignan. United came close to levelling early in the second half when Nick Palmer and then Darragh Byrne saw efforts saved by Sam Johnston before, on 56 minutes, David McMaster extended Dundela’s lead somewhat against the run of play. Palmer did pull one back for the Mallards midway through the second half but, with four minutes to go, McKiernan made sure for the visitors with his second of the afternoon.

The Comrades

Ballyclare Comrades hit Institute for six at Dixon Park to boost their claims for a top six post split finish last week. Calvin McCurry opened the scoring after eight minutes with a left-foot volley into the top right corner. The home side doubled their advantage on 28 minutes courtesy of a Darius Roohi spot-kick before, five minutes after that, Callum Ferris tucked the ball away from inside the box. Gary Donnelly extended Ballyclare’s lead on 66 minutes with a dinked finish over keeper Dylan Doherty at the end of a solo run. ‘Stute hit back with a couple of goals in three minutes to drag themselves back into the game. Ronan McAleer pulled one back with a fantastic half volley on 69 minutes before Oisin Devlin found the net from a free header. However, Howard Beverland added Ballyclare’s fifth with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with Liam Hassin completing the scoring in stoppage time with a header from Caomhan McGuinness’ cross.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides in October, a second half collapse saw Dundela go down 5-2 away to Ballyclare Comrades. 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.

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

Match Info

When: Saturday 18^th February – 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: Beechview Developments

Ball Sponsor: Terry Coulter Cars

The Opponents

Institute fell to defeat against Newington at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Tuesday night. Patrick Downey opened the scoring after just seven minutes with a fierce strike from inside the box. Then, on 39 minutes, Tiarnan McNicholl doubled Newington’s lead to complete the scoring and ultimately secure the win.

The Comrades

The Comrades grabbed a late winner to defeat Ards in an entertaining encounter at Dixon Park on Tuesday night. Darius Roohi fired the Comrades in front on 27 minutes with a curling effort from 16 yards after his initial effort had been blocked. Ards levelled a minute into the second half through Patrick Cafolla after the ball had been played in from the left but Roohi restored Ballyclare’s lead just before the hour from close range for his second of the evening. The visitors hit back again on 69 minutes through Ross Arthurs’ header at the near post but, right at the end, Gary Donnelly bagged the winner with a great finish into the far corner from the left side of the box.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met was just two weeks ago when a single goal was enough to see Comrades advance to the last eight of Irish Cup with a win over Institute at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes when Cillin Gilmour whipped the ball in with pace from a free kick taken just outside the left edge of the box, and it was met by a perfectly flicked header by Cónal McGrandles which flew past the ‘keeper and into the roof of the net. The visitors saw the remainder of the game out to seal a win deserved on their second half performance.

We welcome Ards to Dixon Park this evening for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

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

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: Ernest Hall Menswear

Ball Sponsor: B Craig & Co. Homeware & Hardware

The Opponents

Ards fell to a 1-0 defeat to HW Welders at Clandeboye Park on Saturday. The only goal of the game arrived four minutes into the second half when both Matthew Ferguson and keeper Alex Moore rose to meet the deflection of a Michael McLellan with the ball just creeping over the line despite Greg Hall’s attempted goalline clearance.

The Comrades

The Comrades’ poor run of league results continued with 2-0 defeat to Ballinamallard at Ferney Park on Saturday. On 61 minutes, the hosts took the lead when a ball played into the box from the right found substitute McIlwaine unmarked 6 yards out to fire into the net. Comrades made a number of substitutions to try to turn things around, but to no avail as Mallards looked comfortable with their lead. On 76 minutes they added to it when a cross played into the box was met by a powerful McIlwaine header which gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in November, Adam Salley struck twice as ten-man Ards earned a point from the visit of Ballyclare Comrades to Clandeboye Park. He slid the ball home on 13 minutes to open the scoring for Matthew Tipton’s side, but Caomhan McGuinness levelled for the visitors just before the half-hour mark with an effort in off the underside of the bar. Ards were reduced to ten men soon after when TJ Murray received his second caution of the game, but they recovered to regain the lead just before the break through a Greg Hall header. Ballyclare levelled for a second time on the hour when Gary Donnelly scored direct from a corner. However, Ards moved in front once more a few minutes later when Salley converted from the spot for his second of the game … but the scoring wasn’t finished then as Donnelly also bagged his brace with a 25-yard effort beyond Alex Moore.

We travel to Ferney Park this afternoon to take on Ballinamallard United in our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

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

Where: Ferney Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate

The Opponents

Ballinamallard United picked up the North-West Senior Cup during the week. The Mallards celebrated a 4-1 win against a young Coleraine side at The Showgrounds as a hat-trick from Patrick Ferry eased Harry McConkey’s side to victory. The Championship side would find themselves 3-0 up at the break as Ferry latched onto a cross from Nick Palmer’s cross, before the striker seized upon poor defending to double his tally just after the half-hour mark. Caolan McAleer was also on the scoresheet for the visitors as he let fly from distance and the tie was put beyond doubt as Ferry headed home from McAleer’s corner kick in the second-half. There would be some late joy for the Bannsiders as Eamon Fyfe netted a late consolation for the hosts with a cracking strike from distance. The success marks a second triumph for the Mallards in the competition and the perfect tonic after losing last year’s decider to Dergview.

The Comrades

A single goal was enough to see Comrades advance to the last eight of Irish Cup with a win over Institute at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last week. The hosts started the stronger of the teams and piled on early pressure. Inside three minutes they came close when McFeely skipped past a challenge and shot just wide of the target from the edge of the area. Gradually Comrades began to get a foothold in the game. On 13 minutes Alan McMurtry got forward to run onto a ball laid into his path by Calvin McCurry, but his first-time shot from 20 yards effort rose over the bar. Stephen Small’s side looked a different proposition in the second half and were giving the hosts plenty to worry about. The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes when Cillin Gilmour whipped the ball in with pace from a free kick taken just outside the left edge of the box, and it was met by a perfectly flicked header by Cónal McGrandles which flew past the ‘keeper and into the roof of the net. The visitors saw the remainder of the game out to seal a win deserved on their second half performance.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in November, ten-man Ballinamallard United battled back to earn a draw from Ballyclare Comrades’ visit to Ferney Park. The visitors moved in front after eight minutes when, following a good team move also involving Calvin McCurry and Liam Hassin, Gary Donnelly curled an effort from 20 yards into the net past keeper Michael Lynch. The Mallards went a man down a few minutes from the end of the first half when Shane McGinty was sent-off following an altercation with Donnelly. But Harry McConkey’s side recovered to level just before the hour after John Edgar got on the end of a good cross to beat Declan Breen with a bullet header.

We travel to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tomorrow afternoon to take on Institute in the next round of the Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey Irish Cup.

Match Info

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

Where: Dixon Park

What: Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey Irish Cup

Entry: Pay at the gate

The Opponents

Institute and Ards battled to a share of the spoils at the Brandywell last week. Both goals came midway through the first half, with ‘Stute moving in front on 34 minutes when Calvin McCallion – following his recent switch from Dergview – made the most of a mistake by keeper Alex Moore to open the scoring.  However, it proved to be a short lived lead after, barely three minutes later, Patrick Cafolla levelled for Ards with a well placed header.

The Comrades

Loughgall hit two late goals to come from behind to defeat Ballyclare Comrades at Lakeview Park and return to the top of the Championship during the week. The Villagers had the ball in the net after just three minutes but Benjamin Magee’s finish was ruled out offside. The deadlock was broken just before the half-hour mark, however, when Ballyclare’s Gary Donnelly converted from the spot after Callum Ferris had been brought down inside the area. Ballyclare were reduced to ten men on 60 minutes after Ferris was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. It took Loughgall until the 86th minute to make their numerical advantage count through Nathaniel Ferris’ equaliser following a period of pressure. Then, deep into stoppage time, Pablo Andrade tucked home the winner after a scramble in front of goal.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in November, Conall Curran knocked home the only goal of the game as Ballyclare Comrades defeated Institute at Dixon Park. The former Larne man struck on 81 minutes from close range after connecting with a low ball delivered by Kyle Beggs.