Saturday 4th December
3pm Kick Off
On Saturday Portadown visit the Bet McLean Oval for the second time in six weeks.
Glentoran won all three league fixtures between the sides last season, but it is only 6 weeks since Matthew Tipton’s men last visited the Oval and came with a 2-2 draw when striker Lee Bonis grabbed a point for the 10-man visitors. Before that, goals from Conor McMenamin and Jay Donnelly had looked set to be enough to secure three points after defender Adam McCallum had been dismissed for handling a goal bound Rory Donnelly header on the Ports goal line. The Ports have not won at the Oval in a league fixture since December 2013; in the ten league games played since, five have ended in Glentoran wins and the other five in draws.
It has been a difficult second season back in the IPL so far for Tipton and his team; after 16 games they have managed just one win (and that against the only team below them, Warrenpoint) and eight points. Despite holding both Linfield and Larne to credible Shamrock Park draws recently, to add to the one collected at the Oval, Portadown have failed to win any of their last nine league matches and currently sit in 11th place in the IPL standings.
Goalkeeper Jethren Barr missed Tuesday night’s defeat to Crusaders, with ex Crues and Carrick stopper Harry Doherty replacing him. Injuries have been an ongoing issue with Rory Croskery and defender Oran Jackson having picked up long term injuries that could sideline them for several months; joining Captain Luke Wilson, midfielder Callum McVeigh and experienced defender Paddy NcNally on the list of absentees. Added up that, ex Glens Right Back Nathan Kerr has not featured since mid-November and midfielder George Tipton missed the Crues game after coming off against Larne
Mick McDermott: “We all know our draw against Portadown a few weeks ago was disappointing, but we are in a very different frame of mind this time, having taken sixteen out of eighteen points since then. I’m pleased with the three consecutive clean sheets we’ve had. The team spoke together about how they needed to recover last season’s form and with just two goals conceded in our last six league games they look very capable of doing that. Defending ‘well’ is not simply about having good defenders; it requires that everyone on the pitch show a strong will and desire not to concede – our recent performances have shown that. We all know that if we do not concede we put ourselves, with our goal-scoring ability, in the best position to win any game.
The Ports have had a mixed season so far, but they had good league draws with Linfield and Larne recently to add to their draw with us. So they will be up for this one, But so will we. We are determined to continue our winning and unbeaten runs and the players will be playing this game on that basis.
There has been congestion in recent days because of a major event at the SEE Arena. Supporters approaching from the Sydenham Bypass or the M3 should allow some extra time on Saturday.
As always at home matches, we strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
Our match ball sponsor on Saturday is Woodstock Motorparts, the no.1 motor factor in East Belfast.
Located in Ravenhill Business Park on the Ravenhill Road, Woodstock Motorparts is your first choice for replacement parts, oils, accessories and valeting products for every car.
Full contact details are:
Unit 8,
Ravenhill Business Park,
Belfast, BT6 8AW.
Telephone: 028 9045 5576
email: sales@woodstockmotor.co.uk
