Ards vs Portadown.
Bluefin Sport Championship.
Bangor Fuels Arena.
Saturday 22nd February at 3.00 p.m.
Ards take on league leaders Portadown for the third time this season with the Ports having won both previous encounters. In August Ards took a 2-0 lead before the visitors came back strongly to win 4-2, while at Shamrock Park in December the home side won 2-1 in a game Ards probably felt they could have had a draw.
Since that game in December both sides have similar league records, Ards having picked up 17 points from nine games, while the Ports have 16 points from eight games. However, thanks to an inconsistent spell earlier in the season and a few surprise defeats, Ards are a full twenty points behind the Ports in the table. However both Portadown's recent defeats have been on the road at Ballinamallard and Dergview so Ards won't be without hope.
Both teams have been scoring heavily in recent games, Ards have ten goals in their last two games and the Ports hit seven against Cup giant killers QUBFC last weekend. Adam Salley with 19 goals and Lee Bonis with 15 so far are the obvious dangermen for the visitors while Ards will be hoping that leading goalscorer Michael McLellan can add to his tally following his treble at Dundela last week.
The Ards squad will be along the same lines as last week but John Bailie will be able to include Kyle Calderwood who returns from suspension and Caoimhin McConnell trained this week and may be fit enough for consideration.
Match Sponsor : Patton's Bakery.
Ball sponsor : Swift Outside Catering.
Match Officials:
Referee : Jamie Robinson.
1st Assistant : Gavin Andrews.
2nd Assistant: Rachel Greer.