When Glentoran and Dungannon Swifts met in the Danske Bank Premiership at the Oval on Saturday 5th October the Swifts were in the top half of the table on 15 points, 5 ahead of Glentoran. The Glens, following a poor run of results in September, needed a win and they managed it. Goals from Marcus Kane and Mark Miskimmin gave us a 2-1 win and since then the team have recorded 3 wins and a draw to move onto 23 points and currently sit joint 3rd in the table. It’s been a different story for Dungannon Swifts though. Their defeat in East Belfast was the first of four consecutive losses. A 2-nil reverse to Linfield at Windsor Park was followed by two home defeats; 2-3 to Ballymena Utd and 0-5 to Portadown. Last weekend though Dungannon travelled to Solitude and only an injury time leveller from Joe Gormley prevented them from going back down the M1 with all 3 points.
Eddie Patterson should have almost a full squad available for the trip to Stangmore Park however he may opt to stick with the same starting XI that played against both Cliftonville and Ballymena Utd. Johnny Addis, who has missed a few games with an ankle injury, was on the score sheet on Wednesday night for Glentoran Seconds in a 2-0 home victory against Dungannon Swifts Reserves; Jordan Hughes netted the other goal. Stephen McAlorum may also come back into contention following his suspension last weekend. With the two teams immediately above us facing each other on Saturday there is a great opportunity for Glentoran to improve their league position further.