Ards vs Ballyclare Comrades.
Bluefin Sport Championship.
Bangor Fuels Arena.
Saturday 14th September at 3.00 p.m.
Ards will want to capitalise on their much improved midweek display that saw them progress to the County Antrim Shield quarter finals at the expense of QUBFC. Three points against Ballyclare would keep the momentum going with the next two games being against two of the current top three. Ballyclare have had mixed fortunes so far this campaign, crushing wins over the Welders in the league and Knockbreda in the League Cup gave early season hope, but they have lost the last three league games and been knocked out of two cup competitions, albeit by Premiership big spenders Glentoran on both occasions. More concerning for fans would be the fact that they have conceded five goals four times in their ten competitive games, including the 5-4 home defeat at the hands of Loughgall, a game in which they had a 4-0 half time lead. That result saw the resignation of manager Stephen Hughes who has been replaced by his assistant Paul Harbinson. In his two games so far Paul has seen a narrow defeat at the hands of PSNI and a 3-1 County Antrim Shield loss to Glentoran.
Home fans will be happy if they get the kind of display that saw the Red and Blues win 5-0 on Tuesday evening and will be hoping that David McAllister, the PASC player-of-the-month for August, will be fit to play after having to be substituted in the first half against Queen's, a game in which new loan signing Ben Cushnie made his first start and notched his first goal for the club. Other than the doubt about McAllister and the long term absence of Jonah Heron, Warren Feeney has a full panel to choose from.
Match Sponsor : John Ross and Son, Newtownards.
Ball Sponsor : Cafolla's, The Square, Newtownards.
Referee : Alex Johnston.
1st Assistant : Mark O'Brien.
2nd Assistant : Rachel Greer.