SMITH THE TALISMAN FOR CREWE

Game of the weekend... to... And one to look forward

ARMAGH were on a Blues cruise once again at the weekend as they continued their drive for the line in Division Two.

Iain Latimer’s side turned in a five-star display to stay a point off top spot and still with a game in hand.

And with a cup final also to look forward to, these are exciting times at the Kingston Memorial Playing Fields.

It’s a real sense of deja vu for all concerned in the Division Two promotion scrap with the Blues fighting it out with Annalong and Ballyvea – the two other sides they were promoted with from the third division last season.

United LT are another in the mix this time around but, with just one defeat so far, Armagh are looking good to be playing Division One football next season. Not that the gaffer is getting ahead of himself.

Latimer insisted: “We’ve dropped just four points so far but we’re certainly not taking our eye off the ball.

“It’s just one Saturday at a time and we try to approach every game in the same way, treating every opponent with the same level of respect

“And we set ourselves up in the same way every game no matter who we’re up against.

“We have virtually the same squad as we did last season which helps and there’s a panel of 18 or 19 and all of a similar standard.

“The challenge is to keep them all happy but while we’re pushing for the title and in cup finals they’re all really motivated and they’ve all been first class.

“We’re a family club, there are three brothers in the first team and everyone is friends, and that installs something special.

“I have good help off the pitch with Nigel Cooke in a joint management role, Mervyn Stewart in as goalkeeping coach and Dave Andrews, who used to be Markethill Swifts manager, takes the training.

“That all takes a lot of the pressure off me and we all work well together.

“We’re trying to add small details which can hopefully make the difference in the long run.”

He added: “Division Two is a really good standard.

“We know United LT from previous seasons and they’re local to us and ourselves, Annalong and Ballyvea came up together last season.

“There are five or six teams who can take points off you and a few who have caused surprises on their day.

“We’re really pleased with how things are going and we have the remainder of our games at home which will hopefully be an advantage for us.

“But there is a lot of football still to play so we have to maintain the standards we have set so far.”

Not only are the Mill Field outfit pushing for the league title, they also have a cup final to look forward to as well.

The Blues will face

ON a day when far more important matters overshadowed the football, on the pitch Crewe United moved second in Intermediate A. After falling behind away at Hanover, an own goal and an 87th minute winner from Dan Smith handed the points to Eamon Mccarthy’s side. Oxford Sunnyside’s title ambitions are surely over for the year after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Moneyslane. Two goals in five minutes leading up to half-time did the damage as Slane claimed the points thanks to Brown and Joao strikes. And Rectory Rangers, at one point dominant frontrunners, are another to bite the dust in the race to be champions after they lost 4-3 away to Bourneview Mill. But they almost turned the game on its head having been four goals down at one point after strikes by Neill, Boyce, Gray and Haugh. Ballymacash Rangers were left frustrated as they dropped more points in their push for top spot. Walker got them an 81st minute equaliser away at Valley after the hosts had gone in front having been a goal down. The derby at Madden Road proved one to savour as Tandragee Rovers held on for a thrilling 4-3 win over Laurelvale. This weekend, Banbridge Rangers return to league action away at in-form Richhill AFC with Valley hosting Tandragee, Bourneview meeting Moneyslane, Rectory at Fivemiletown and Oxford Sunnyside going to Laurelvale. BLUE THEM AWAY Simon Andrews (above) and William Crozier (right) enjoy scoring against Hillsborough at Madden Road SEVEN goals served up and where derby rivals Tandragee a cracking match Laurelvale battled out the hosts. which went the way of LT in Division BALLYVEA against United two sides well Two is a meeting between and both capable matched, well acquainted of winning. MAKE MINE A DOUBLE Armagh Blues manager Iain Latimer is targeting glory