Glentoran v Carrick Rangers
Saturday 21st April 2018, 3.00pm.
On Saturday we have our penultimate match of the season when Carrick Rangers visit the Oval. Carrick went bottom of the table for the first time this season following their controversial 2-1 defeat at Ballinamallard on Tuesday night so they have plenty to play for this weekend as they are just two points adrift of the Mallards with six to play for.
Our form against Carrick this season has been one of the telling factors in how we have performed overall in the league and cups. In August we drew 1-1 in the league at the Oval when an early opener from Ross Redman was equalised immediately after half time by former Glens U20 player Lee Chapman. In October Carrick knocked us out of the Bet McLean League Cup with a Mark Edgar free kick separating the teams. Immediately before Christmas, we took a first half lead with an Eric Foley header but again failed to hold out, drawing 1-1 following an injury time equaliser, again from Lee Chapman. Our last meeting, at the Belfast Loughshore Hotel Arena in February, was unspectacular but more positive when a late Marcus Kane header made the score 1-2 for after ex-Glens striker Darren Henderson had equalised Robbie McDaid’s early opening goal.
Ronnie McFall: “I made 6 changes on Tuesday night, some enforced and some by choice, and it worked with a much better performance and a good win. It’s important when players have been out of the team that they take their chance when they get it. That’s exactly what happened against Dungannon. There are players like James Ferrin I haven’t seen much of in competitive action and I was delighted with how he did for us on Tuesday. We also played John McGuigan further forward and he was outstanding from start to finish. So much of our better play went through him as he had a hand in three of our goals, including a good one for himself.
We haven’t had a definite answer on Curtis Allen’s availability yet so for now I’m working on the assumption that we won’t have him. Robbie McDaid is still injured but it isn’t serious so he’ll be available for next week and the playoffs so young Paul O’Neill comes into the squad and might get his chance. Willie Garrett is still injured so we won’t risk him.
We play Carrick Rangers in what’s a make or break match for them. After their loss at Ballinamallard on Tuesday they need to win this one and for us to do them a favour against Ballinamallard here next week. Despite Carrick fighting relegation, Glentoran’s record against them hasn’t been good this season so the players will need to be completely focussed on their own performance. This isn’t an end of season workout and I’ve made that very clear to the players”.
