Ballymoney Chronicle - Sports - On the Cup trail!

Sports

On the Cup trail!

Thursday, 5 January 2012

GLEBE Rangers and Ballymoney United are both away from home this Saturday in the third round of the Coca-Cola Intermediate Cup.
Struggling Championship One side Glebe are away to Shorts while Championship Two team Ballymoney United are away to Desertmartin (kick-offs 1.30pm).
Glebe, in their first league game under new manager Peter Cairns lost 2-1 at home to Tobermore United on Saturday.
Two first half goals in two minutes proved costly for the Glebe and although they did manage a late consolation, time ran out as they went in search for the equaliser. Despite the defeat, they remain off the foot of the table but are still in the relegation zone and languish five and seven points behind Dergview and HW Welders respectively.
Regardless of what's happening in the league, Glebe will be expected to see off the challenge of Shorts. The Belfast side play in Division 1C of the Northern Amateur Football League, however, having said that, they will be all too aware of what these lower tier teams can do - just ask Newington YC, who dumped the Glebe out of the JJB Sports Irish Cup in the fourth round last month.
“It's a welcome break from the league. It's a chance for us to forget about the pressures of the league," said Cairns.
“However, having said that, I know only too well that junior teams are capable of pulling off results against the bigger teams. And we'll certainly not be underestimating Shorts. They will be well organised and they will be ready for the challenge, but so will we.
“I was disappointed with the result from Saturday but not too disheartened with the performance. It hasn't been easy for the players since I've taken over. We haven't been able to get out on to the pitch yet and have been training on a 3G pitch which is really only six-a-side. Hopefully this week we'll get outside for training and then the boys can see what I want from them and where we are going."
Ballymoney United put another three points on the board on Saturday with a 2-1 win over struggling Moyola Park. It was just the response manager Paul Gaston was looking from his side after their disappointing 3-2 defeat at Killymoon Rangers before Christmas.
And although his might be looking ahead to the Irish Cup fifth round clash with Bangor on Saturday, Janauary 14, he's keen to do well in the Intermediate Cup as well. Desertmartin ply their trade in the Premier division of the Ballymena & Provincial Intermediate League and they'll fancy their chances of taking a scalp, particularly in cup football.
“Thankfully we finally got that monkey off our backs, and finally beat a team below us in the league," said Gaston. We've a break from the league now for a couple of weeks and have these two cup games.
“With Bangor in the Irish Cup next Saturday, we might rest some players this weekend against Desertmartin. A lot of players are a wee bit sore, so it's a chance for other guys to come in and have their chance.