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Match Preview: Cliftonville v Glentoran

Tue, 19/11/2019 - 22:01

Cliftonville v Glentoran

Wednesday 20 November 2019, Kick Off 7.45 pm

Tomorrow night we travel to Solitude for yet another knock out match with Cliftonville, this time in the semi-final of the Toal’s County Antrim Shield.

Although we have won this trophy on 26 occasions – the most recent being in 2010-11 season - this is our first semi final since September 2011. On that occasion a hat trick from Richard Gibson and goals from Sean Ward and Kyle Cherry game Scott Young’s Glens team a comfortable 5-1 win over Lisburn Distillery at Ballyskeagh.

Cliftonville are on a very positive run of results at the moment but it’s fair to say they were fortunate to win 1-0 at the Oval last month in an even game that swung on a ridiculous sending off for Darren Murray and a world class injury time save from Reds’ keeper Richard Brush. So clearly tomorrow night we’ll be looking to extend our current six game unbeaten run and progress to the final against either Ballymena United or H&W Welders.

Mick McDermott: “This is the first semi final the club has been in for a while, so like any semi final it’s very important to the whole club that we get through this and make the final of the Shield. We’re treating it as a massive game but so will Cliftonville as they’re on a good run of form and will want a trophy to go with it. But our boys are highly motivated and will go at the game positively from the start. Our form has also been good so I think it should be a well-matched tie.

As it stands virtually everyone is available to us so I’m confident we will send out a team that can do the job we need done tomorrow night.”

Ahead of the game, the PSNI have issued the following advice for supporters:

Glentoran fans travelling by private car to Cliftonville Football Club for the Toal’s County Antrim Shield tie on Wednesday 20th November 2019 (ko 7:45pm) are requested to park in the residential areas above Solitude off the Cliftonville Road- i.e. Cardigan Drive and Knutsford Drive, etc. Motorists should consider local resident and emergency vehicle access when deciding where and how to park.

Glentoran fans parking in the residential areas around Knutsford and Cardigan are requested to approach and leave the area via the Westland Road and avoid travelling city wards on the Cliftonville Road after the match to avoid traffic congestion.

Those travelling by Bus/ Coach should be at Fortwilliam Roundabout / M2 by p.m. at the latest. Police will meet the buses at the top of the off-slip road at Fortwilliam and advise drivers/clubs re arrangements for both moving to Solitude and then away from the ground at the end of the match.

Police are reminding fans that there are specific offences created by the Criminal Justice Act NI 2011 in relation to soccer matches:

  • Possession of fireworks/flares etc
  •  Throwing articles capable of causing injury
  • Going on to the playing area
  • Sectarian chanting
  • Drinking on passenger carrying vehicles

In addition, all fans are reminded that the areas around the Stadium are “No Street Drinking “zones under Belfast City Council By-Laws.  Any Street drinking taking place will be dealt with and any alcohol found seized.

Any public indecency offences such as urinating in public will be robustly dealt with.
Maximum Use of CCTV/ Landrover Roof Top and Hand Held Evidence Gathering will be made both inside and outside the Stadium as part of the Police Criminal Justice Strategy in an effort to deal with any offences which come to light.

Police will take all steps to identify and deal with anyone who has been or is committing offences. It is vitally important for supporter and community safety that these instructions are complied with and that the impact of the event on the local residential and business communities in minimised.

It is hoped that a common sense approach to the evening will be adopted and the occasion enjoyed by all.