Portadown v Glentoran - Monday 14th December 2015 - Kick-off 7:45pm at Shamrock Park.
Alan Kernaghan will be hoping his team’s form in front of goal continues for tonight’s game with Portadown; the game having been rescheduled following Saturday's postponement.
The Glens thumped four past Ballinamallard Utd last week to secure the new manager’s first away win in charge.
Fra McCaffrey scored a double, while Curtis Allen and Jonathan Smith also got their name on the scoresheet to condemn Whitey Anderson’s men to their fifth league defeat in a row.
On the back of that result the East Belfast side travel to Shamrock Park in confident mood and will be looking to replicate the attacking threat which brought them success last time out.
The Ports will be itching to get back to action as their game last week against Warrenpoint Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch of Milltown.
Ronnie McFall’s side were superior in all four league meetings last year as they boasted an unbeaten run of one win and three draws. However, it was the East Belfast team that tasted Irish Cup glory back in May.
In their first encounter since that triumph the Glens were victorious once again thanks to a superb Marcus Kane finish. Keith O’Hara was sent-off late on for the Ports and unused substitute Mark McAllister was also red-carded for dissent.
September’s victory helped the Glens leapfrog their opponents in the league for sixth spot, and they have maintained that place ever since.
Portadown looked to be in freefall after suffering four league defeats on the bounce but Ronnie McFall and his team seem to have turned a corner after picking up seven points out of ten available in their last three games.
The Ports resurgence has helped them catapult back up the table and they now sit behind the visitors in seventh place, just six points off.
A win for the Glens tomorrow will help extend the gap to nine and they will be relying on Smith again. The youngster has exploded onto the scene after scoring in his last three games.
David Scullion will still be missing from the squad for another couple of weeks. Kym Nelson, Kristian Gibson and Connor McMenamin have all returned to training though Saturday's game will probably come too soon for them.
Skipper Stephen McAlorum and defender Barry Holland will both miss the game through suspension, however the home side will also be without a couple of players for the same reason.
Nathan Webb