Welders aiming to extend hot streak
HARLAND & Wolff Welders are on a roll and will hope to keep it going today when they travel to Ballinamallard United in the Bluefin Sport Championship.
It has been a testing season for new management duo Colin McIlwaine and George O’Boyle, but their team produced the result of the campaign in the division by beating Portadown 2-1 last weekend thanks to Scott Davidson and Matthew Ferguson.
Welders followed that up with another impressive win away to Ards in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield when Davidson struck late on.
Now they will be going for a hat-trick against Ballinamallard, who suffered a shock loss at Ballyclare Comrades last time out.
Portadown’s first defeat in nine games saw them slip to second. Matthew Tipton’s team will be aiming to bounce back at home to Dergview.
Loughgall are now top as Dean Smith continues to do an exceptional job at Lakeview Park.
Top scorer Nathaniel Ferris is shining for Loughgall, who know they are in for a tricky encounter at fourth-placed Dundela today.
Newry City are fast becoming a team to watch. Darren Mullen’s side have won three out of their last four games and will go into the encounter at PSNI in confident mood having hammered Ards 5-1 last weekend.
After a disappointing week, Warren Feeney knows his Ards side need to step up at Ballyclare Comrades, who remain the most unpredictable team. Bottom club Knockbreda are at home to Queen’s University, who should be buoyed by a superb 5-2 victory at Dundela. All games at 3pm. MICHAEL McCrudden is determined to play his part in sending Derry City into Europe next season by ending his goal drought in the last week of the season.
Since joining the club in February, the 28-year-old has made 15 appearances and, whilst he has chipped in with assists, he has yet to find the net and he admitted that he is constantly reminded of that fact by his not so sympathetic team-mates, who visit Sligo tonight (7.45pm).
“Don’t chat, that’s going to have to come now before the end of the season,” he laughed.
“I am getting a bit of jip so I’m going to have to break the duck at some stage. I thought I would have had a couple by now and I’d be telling a lie if I said it didn’t play on my mind.
“It definitely does, but hopefully when I get the first one there will be plenty more to come.
“It’s nice to be assisting goals, but it would be nicer to get that first goal which would get that weight off my shoulders and then I’ll be able to play freely.”
Bohemians’ victory over Dundalk last week has increased the pressure on Derry City heading into the final week of the campaign, with three clubs still in the mix for two European places.
With fifth placed St Pat’s at the Brandywell next Tuesday, victory at Sligo tonight is vital for Declan Devine and his players.
McCrudden said: “It’s good that we have something to play for. In seasons gone by you can have situations where you can’t wait to get it over with, but now with three games to go and a big spot to play for in Europe it’s excellent for all the boys.”