HockeyBhoy - Comments

2024-2025 Season: Plans are afoot

That break in Dubai was just that was needed, even if it was just for a week. Doing as little as possible and switching off from anything football related. Sometimes you have to de-stress don't you?

Anyway once back it was time to get back on the proverbial horse and start looking ahead. All the loan players returned to their parent clubs, despite being signed to 30 June 2005 which is officially the last day of a season. Of them, we decided to exercise an option to make left back Connor Maxwell's move from Ards a permanent one and we were delighted that he wanted to come back on that permanent deal as you can see. He officially joins us on 1 July 2025

Of the others, we agreed with Ballymena United to make David Taylor a permanent member of the squad but the teenage striker doesn't want to return despite the promotion to the second tier. He obviously thinks he has a chance of breaking into the Sky Blues' first team. We will see what does occur and keep tabs on his circumstances. Joshua Kee might return as might Paddy Hoskins but no firm decision has been made on either as there are potential other irons in the proverbial fire. One player that won't be signing for us is 21 year old striker Harry Wilson who had been recently released by Portadown.

Wilson has joined Ards, and also turned down Banbridge Town, Moyola Park and Limavady United of the Intermediate League: let's face it who would join either of those three as well as us since it was a no-brainer to join the Red and Blues in his eyes. Not too disheartened though, we have made an offer to another 21 year old striker who seemed to do rather well against us this season…he scored 24 in just 34 games this season just ended so he knows where the net is; right?

Naturally we made offers to the two contracted players we have, and both provisionally have beeb accepted. “Fergie” might be 36 and in the twilight of his career but he certainly thinks that there is life in the old dog yet and can play in the Championship next season. I was half expecting him to retire to be fair. Jordan O'Brien, whilst still in his 20s and technically our fourth choice custodian, is a promising goalkeeping coach that adds depth. Watch this though, Fergie will retire now I've said this about him.

The backroom staff seem happy with the situation, so all is good right? Just need to get the players in…

2024-2025 Season: The Season That Was….

In this post, we recap what happened in the season just completed at home and elsewhere in some of Europe's leagues. Plus a round up of the European Club Competitions.

Northern Ireland: The question was could Larne do a three-peat or would someone else ruin their plan. As it was, three-peat was achieved by Tiernan Lynch's men by eight points from nearest challengers Glenotran who will feature in next season's Conference League. Third place went to Cliftonville whilst the final European slot went to Crusaders who saw off Linfield 3-1 at the National Stadium. It was a very disappointing season for the Blues who finished fifth in the league standings an astonishing 23 points behind the champions. The Blues also dispensed with the services of long serving manager and national team hero David Healy in mid-February, former player Michael Gault taking charge as caretaker. The Glens won the Irish Cup with a 3-1 win over Championship side Bangor thanks to a three goal blitz in the first 45 minutes.

England: Another side that retained their national title was Pep Guardiola's Manchester City who made it five Premiership titles in a row, and a ninth since their first in 2012. Runners-up were Liverpool in Xabi Alonso's first season since succeeding the legendary Jürgen Klopp in the summer whilst also qualifying for the Champions League next season were Chelsea, Newcastle United and Manchester United. The three Europa League spots for positions 6-8 were taken up by Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur. Of the three promoted sides, Ipswich suffered an immediate return to the Championship with a 19th placed finish whilst Leicester City and Southampton finished 15th and 16th respectively. Nottingham Forest finished at the bottom whilst AFC Bournemouth's three season spell in the top flight ended with the Cherries being relegated on goal difference after they had finished on the same number of points as Burnley.

After being beaten on penalties in last season's Championship Play-Off Final, Leeds United made no mistake this time as they took the Championship title by a two point margin over runners-up Luton Town. Those Championship play-offs saw Sheffield United take on Norwich City whilst the other was a Midlands battle between Coventry City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The home side's won the first legs 1-0, Rhian Brewster with the only goal for the Blades against the Canaries, Mario Lemina doing likewise for Wolves. Second legs saw Coventry and Wolves drew 2-2 at the CBS with Fabio Silva scoring the decisive goal whilst the men from the Steel City booked their place at Wembley 4-1 in a penalty shootout after playing the second leg despite playing with ten men from the eighth minute onward after Chris Mepham saw red. The game ended 2-1 in Norfolk with Leander Dendoncker and Josh Sargent scoring the Canaries and Vini Souza for United.. Therefore we had a repeat of the 2003 Final which Wolves won 3-0 and they repeated the trick this season with a similar win thanks to a brace from Alejo Veliz and the other from Matheus Cunha.

Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers and Peterborough United were the ones to go down to League One, with “The Posh” suffering an immediate return after getting promoted in 2023-24. Of the other promoted sides, Lincoln City had the best season of the three with a very creditable 14th placed finish. League One saw Millwall regain their Championship status as they won the title with 95 points, five clear of runners-up Fleetwood Town. The League One play-off final was between relegated sides Preston North End (who overcame Portsmoth) and Huddersfield Town (who saw off Blackpool) and it was the Lancastrians who prevailed with a 2-1 triumph thanks to Mads Frojkær's winner. Dropping into League Two next season are Sutton United, Northampton Town, Burton Albion and Cambridge United: Sutton suffering the immediate return. 

Winning automatic promotion to League One next season were Champions AFC Wimbledon, Notts County and MK Dons. Reading defeated Forest Green Rovers 2-1 on aggregate in one play-off semi to book a Wembley date with Colchester United who saw off Walsall 2-0 over two legs in the other. The Royals made light work in the Final with a comprehensive 4-0 win over the U's and return back to the third tier. Dropping into the National League are Crawley Town and Cheltenham Town; the Gloucestershire side suffering a back to back relegation. Replacing them are Champions Yeovil Town and Gateshead who won the play-off final 4-2 on spot kicks against former League club Rochdale after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes. Goals from Mohammed Salah and a double from Brazilian midfielder Marcos Leonardo enabled Liverpool to take the FA Cup to Merseyside as the Reds defeated Crystal Palace 3-0. It was a second domestic Cup this season for them as they won the Carabao Cup too; beating Aston Villa on 4-2 on spot kicks after Diogo Jota's 86th minute equaliser cancelled out Jacob Ramsey's 48th minute opener for the Villans.

Scotland: Celtic regained the Scottish Premiership crown, their 54th title, by a convincing 11 point margin. Last season's Champions Rangers hopes' of making it back to triumphs wasn't helped by the ‘Gers recording 12 draws which was the joint second worst in the division: they did qualify for the Champions League with the runners-up spot however. Hibernian and Motherwell finished third and fourth respectively to qualify for the Europa League whilst St. Mirren’s fifth placed standing gives them a place in the Conference League. Greenock Morton suffered an automatic relegation whilst 11th placed Raith Rovers defeated Falkirk 3-2 on aggregate to retain their Premiership status at the Bairns expense. The Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Aberdeen ended goalless after extra time, but the Gers triumphed 3-1 on penalties whilst Luke McCowan's 87th minute winner gave the said Dandy Dons the League Cup as they overcame Hamilton Academical 1-0.

Spain: Real Madrid won La Liga for the 36th time in their history with bitter rivals Barcelona a distant seven points behind in second. The other two Champions League spot were filled by Athletic Club Bilbao and Atlético Madrid who finished third and fourth respectively. Real Sociedad and Getafé qualified for the Europa League thanks to their fifth and sixth placed finishes and Sevilla took the Conference League berth. Tumbling out of La Liga were Elché, Real Betis and Alavés; to be replaced by Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol plus one from the play-offs which are yet to be decided. The Copa del Rey was also won by Real as two goals in as many minutes early in the second half from Arkadiusz Milik and Karim Konaté sealed a 2-0 win over Sevilla.

Italy: Inter Milan won a back to back Scudetto, and their 21st Serie A crown as they finished four points clear of Juventus. Third, fourth and fifth place, and the other Champions League spots, were filled by AC Milan, AS Roma and Lazio whilst Fiorentina and Atalanta will be in the Europa League thanks to their sixth and seventh placed finishes and Napoli's eighth place gives them a spot in the Conference League next season. Pisa and Salento have been relegated to Serie B with Udinese and Sampdoria are in a play-off for 17th after the teams finished level on 33 points. Catanzaro won Serie B by a single point from Brescia whilst the third spot will be decided by a play-off between Frosinone and Spezia. The Coppa Italia was won by Lazio with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina.

Germany:  There was a new name on die Meisterschale, and for the first time ever - RB Leipzig are Champions of Germany. The Club, who were only formed in 2009, won the title on the final day from defending champions and 34-times winner Bayern München by a single point. Leipzig defeated SC Freiburg 3-2 and held on for the win whilst Bayern were defeating Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-0 in the Allianz. Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund took the two remaining Champions League spots with Borussia Mönchengladbach qualifying for the Europa League and Eintracht Frankfurt; the Conference League. Patrick Vieira's VfB Stuttgart won the DfB Pokal with a comprehensive 4-1 win over 2.Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel in Berlin to bag themselves a Europa League berth despite a 9th placed finish in the league standings. 

Relegated to 2.Bundesliga are Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1.FC Köln and Hamburger SV: the latter in the promotion/relegation play off. Promoted are Hertha Berlin from said play-off, 2.Bundesliga Champions Union Berlin and runners-up Darmstadt.

France: Retaining their Ligue ‘Un title, and winning their 14th championship, were Paris Saint-Germain. They finished an astonishing 34 points clear of second placed Lens, and were invincible in the league itself with 29 wins and 5 draws from their 34 matches! Racing Club Lens will be joining them in the Champions League as will third placed OGC Nice. Stade de Reims and Stade Rennais finished fourth and fifth to qualify for the Europa League whilst Lille, who finished sixth in the Ligue ’Un table, will be in the Conference League. PSG completed the domestic double with a 2-0 win over Lens in the Coupe de France. Metz and Bordeaux were relegated to the second tier but 16th placed Lorient kept their place in the top flight with a 3-0 triumph over Clermont in the promotion/relegation play-off. Returning to the top division are second tier champions SC Montpellier and runners-up AJ Auxerre.

Now for the European Club Competitions:

UEFA Champions League: A Josko Gvardiol goal in the 60th minute settled this season's Champions League Final in the Allianz Arena, Munich for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City stars as they defeated Real Madrid. City did this despite losing star striker Erling Haaland to a groin related injury after just eight minutes. It was City's second Champions League crown in the last three seasons with Real having won it last season and in 2021-22.

UEFA Europa League: A sixth minute goal from Rolando Mandragora gave Fiorentina the lead in the Europa League played in San Mames, Bilbao. However, two goals in the final 12 minutes from Stephen Eustaquio and Mehdi Taremi, the winner in the fourth minute of time added-on, gave Porto the win in dramatic circumstances.

UEFA Conference League: .It's three wins in as many seasons for English sides in the Conference League. The latest win went to Tottenham Hotspur who demolished AS Roma 4-0 in the Final played in Wroclaw. Three goals in eight first half minutes gave the North Londoners a lead that they never looked like relinquishing with Heung-Min Son, James Maddison and Matteo Ruggeri on target. Yves Bissouma added the gloss with the fourth in the 57th minute.

UEFA Super Cup: First half goals from Nacho (with a penalty), Endrick and Aurélien Tchouanemi settled the Super Cup Final for Real Madrid as they defeated Liverpool 3-0 in the game between last season's Champions League winners and the respective Europa League winners played in Warsaw.

UEFA Youth League: This season's Youth League Final was won by Inter Milan's Under 20s who defeated their counterparts from Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in Nyon. The Italian side's goals came from German prospect Leon Bamert and Azzurini striker Francesco Pio Esposito with Oumar Camara's 86th minute effort proving to be a mere consolation in the final analysis.

2024-2025 Season: Exits galore 

One of the final tasks at the end of the season is to decide who to retain and who to release. It's called in ice hockey circles, exit interviews where you sit down with each player in the squad individually and tell them if you are wanting to keep them or they have to seek new employers.

The only players not involved in these conversations were the six players who were on loan to the Club and they were to return to their respective parent clubs very soon. Of those six, I would like to retain the services of left-back Connor Maxwell and striker David Taylor. They were both really good for us this season with Taylor proving that he has all the attributes to become a real poacher as good as Jonathan Doyle. Joshua Kee could return if we need an extra striker whilst Paddy Hoskins could be a good number two behind Ryan Dalzell. I have no plans to bring back either Keelan Gibson nor Jamie Ingram, I think I made a mistake burning two loan spots with those.

Anyway with Mohammad Butt already gone and Sean Hill set to depart, who else from our squad would depart The Dub? As it was, I chose to release seven. They were as follows:

Bradley Lyttle

Joshua Logan

Matthew Hanna

Aaron Cochrane

Ryan Worthington

John-Joe MacDonald

Éric Akassou

It could have been more in hindsight. But that's the ones I delivered bad news to. Of the remainder, Owen Madine can go if we get an offer for him as I don't want his negativity at not playing in the Mezzala role anymore. Callum McVeigh was outstanding in that role this season and chipped in with goals and assists a plenty. Another player who can go, providing we get an upgrade on him, is right-back and vice-captain Craig Briers. He's that player who somehow doesn't kinda like being praised for excellent form when it's warranted. 

The window opens next month, and I think we need to get our shopping completed early. Season three is going to be a massive learning curve for us all and that includes me.

Before I jetted away, I was at the Final of this season's Irish Cup. It was won for the 24th time by the Pride of the East: Glentoran. The Glens brushed aside Championship side Bangor 3-1 at the National Stadium with central midfielder Cammy Palmer running the show. He only played for 64 minutes but he was just brilliant.

Time to relax, if that's possible?

2024-2025 Season: Rounding off the rest of the season

With us playing Friday night, Saturday would be usually be a day off to see how the rest of the final regular season fixtures unfolded on BBC Radio Ulster. Yet that wasn't how I wanted to finish off season two, I had to be in a stadium watching some game. So I decided to head off to Larne, and to watch the Newington - Banbridge match rather than go to the Coagh - Lisburn Distillery one. Before I did, there was a nice text message that brought a wee smile to one's face: it simplu read:

“Congratulations on winning the league. Knew you could do it babe. Am filming somewhere so can't celebrate with you though. N xx”

Yeah Galway's finest had texted to send her warmest appreciation, and it made the drive to Larne that bit more happier. The piercing vocals of Daniel Davey from Ipswich filled the air on the motorway to Larne, and arriving the locals seemed to wonder why the Head Coach of a rival was coming to their stadium when his own team wasn't in opposition. It was a case in point that it was either be here or mooch around in absolute boredom in St. George's Market which one could only take in moderation.

The game itself ended in a 3-1 win for the home side with striker Darren Stuart bagging a brace for them to go along with Peter McKiernan's opener; Graham Ward scored Banbridge's effort. This meant that The Ton would face Dollingstown over two legs next Saturday and the following Tuesday with the last remaining slot in the Championship for 2025-26 at stake. Elsewhere Coagh and Distlllery shared a 1-1 draw to finish third and2 fourth respectively. The top half of the table was completed by Rathfriland Rangers who won 3-1 at Ballymacash Rangers on the final day, Knockbreda who drew their final game 2-2 at Queens and Armagh City who finished with a 3-0 win on home soil against Portstewart. The 13th versus 14th match in Limavady ended in a 3-3 draw and the already relegated visitors announced they had parted company with manager John McGrath moments after the final whistle.

We were now going to be a smaller fish in a bigger pond, but what would “Ebeneezer” demand from us? Well we didn't have to wait too long as he was straight on it in a Zoom call on Sunday morning as I was getting ready for my usual routine on Sundays which normally meant being at St. Peter's in the City. I had always maintained that my faith had gotten me through testing times and when I needed it the most, I had my family instilling that in me from when I was knee high to a blooming grasshopper. Anyway as I was just buttoning up my shirt, Ken was ringing on Zoom:

“Ken.”

“Mark, hope I've not woken you too early this Sunday morning.”

“No Ken you haven't, I was just getting ready to go…”

“Yes I know where you're going. Anyway, just a quick Zoom call to say I've finished drafting our vision for 2025-26.”

“Already?”

“Yeah. I know the season's just finished but I wanted to get it sorted early doors. I'll email it over so you can read it when you get back.. Ciao for now…”

And he hung up before I could even reply back. So early that afternoon, I opened Ken's email which was short and sweet. It was simply entitled “2025-26 Vision” and read the following:

So no transfer budget then. Meant more wheeling and a dealing in the free transfer and loan markets. And Ken being the Scrooge that he is, he wouldn't think it was necessary to spend money or increase the Club's bank balance by means of a cash injection. That would be too much of an ask wouldn't it? He's gonna have proverbial kittens should we make the Premiership. Anyhoo, I emailed him back to say OK even though deep inside I was hurting at his complete reluctance at wanting to move forwards as a Club. My hands felt tied but I still had my plan for the Club at the back of my head and Ken would have to do something he wouldn't currently dare to do if the progression accelerates like it is now. I was sure I was the one that was holding all the aces not “Ebeneezer” Green….

The squad headed away on their summer holidays a few days later but not before Sam Morrow had been acknowledged as the League's Player of the Month for the final month which he accepted with his usual humility. However, what was surprising was that he said the real credit for it was down to one person: me. I was lost for words again, a bit like when it comes to trying to chat up Nicola Coughlan or any female. Cheers Sam. I was looking forward to see what he could do in the second tier already but was formulating which players to release in the next few weeks or so as there were a number that didn't fit in my plans. I mean, if they didn't get in my Intermediate League squad then there would be no chance they would feature in my Championship one.

As regards the play-offs, Newington joined us in the Championship and sent Dollingstown back to an intermediate return to the Intermediate League with a 4-2 aggregate triumph. Goals from Brian McCaul and Martin Gibbons, the latter who I heard shouts of “Funky” whenever he touched the ball due to a song by The Goodies apparently, won them the first leg in Larne. The Dollybirds erased that deficit on their own pitch by the 34th minute but a goal from Stephen Hunter a minute before half time deflated them and gave the Ton a boost. With the home side pushing, Gibbons scored again eight minutes from the end to make level on the night and end the home side's dreams there and then.

Next thing, and before I head away to Dubai for a summer break, is to decide who to release, Tough decisions but ones that have to be made, right? There's gonna be a few disappointed folk looking for new clubs in 2025-26….

2024-2025 Season: Honours even on trophy lift night

With just pride left to play for, we could go into Friday night's game under The Dub's floodlights with the handbrake well and truly off. A season which had begun with a 6-2 win over Seagoe in the Steel and Sons Cup was about to draw to a conclusion but a very successful one at that. Friday night would see Johnny Wilson lift up the Playr-Fit Intermediate League trophy, the Club's first ever major league honour.

I got to The Dub early on Friday night as I wanted to see Ken beforehand. Just a friendly chat with old “Ebeneezer”, no demands or anything as they could wait for the close season when the dust had settled on 2024-25.

“Evening Kenneth.”

“Evening Mark, ready for tonight?”

“Ready as I'll ever be. How's the ticket sales gone for tonight, bumper crowd expected?”

“Eh?”

“Trophy lift night, hoping for around 400 through the turnstiles right Kenneth?”

“No, not quite. Expecting less than 150 I heard. Anyway I gotta go, chairman talking with sponsors…”

And he just left me standing there. Less than 150 for a trophy lift game? Absolutely shocking that I muttered to myself, I hope this was not going to be the story in the Championship next season. We have a project here and we've just won a title: why are folk staying away? I wish I bloody well knew the answer to that. The bookies thought we would finish with our fifth win a row and have made us 8-11 favourites to do so. Moyola, who were the opponents that kickstarted our change in fortunes, are 7-2 to surprise us and take three back up to the North Coast whilst 11-4 can be found if you reckon that the game will end in a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 100 (2 away)

So with that handbrake off, I decided on not one but four changes to the starting line up on trophy lift night. After sitting on his backside for the majority of the campaign, Paddy Hoskins was given his first league start of the season with regular number one Ryan Dalzell given the night off and chill on the bench: he would only be called upon if any emergency arose. Keelan Gibson was also given his first start too as he partnered the veteran that is Andrew Ferguson in central defence, Aaron Porter came in for Alexandre Machado which allowed Sam Morrow to switch to the left flank which he is comfortable with whilst Owen Madine was given a rare start in central midfield alongside skipper Johnny Wilson with Callum McVeigh having a rest on the substitutes bench. Moyola made just one change themselves as Paul Smith replaced Mark Kelly in the sole striker role. Tonight's referee is Niall Devlin of Craigavon.

Determined to play party poopers, Moyola came into tonight's match with a very positive mindset indeed. This was illustrated as early as the fourth minute when they almost opened the scoring,when a free kick from Matthew Ward just went over the top of Hoskins' crossbar. His opposing number, Andy Findlay, had to be alert a couple of minutes later when a teasing right wing cross from Porter had him backpedalling and pawing the ball to safety as Joshua Kee closed in on the delivery. Playing the sole striker role, Smith was next to threaten our goal with a solo effort that saw the experienced striker send an effort into the side netting when the two away fans thought otherwise. Our next chance came in the 20th minute when a loose ball found its way to the feet of Wilson who shot just over the bar with the goal gaping. Three minutes later, Moyola did finally open the scoring when a well constructed team move saw Peter Duffin lay the ball into the path of Smith who tucked it home at the near post past Hoskins.

As we were about to go into one minute of time added-on, we levelled matters. Morrow weighted a perfect ball down the line for Jonathan Doyle who measured a perfect cross into the path of the on-rushing Kee who tucked away his fifth goal of his loan spell. Early in the second half, we had a half chance to go in front when another testing cross, this time from Morrow, was headed down by substitute Machado but Moyola substitute Kenneth Selfridge produced a fantastic block to deny Doyle a tap-in. Smith sent a long strike inches wide with just 18 minutes to go but should have won the game for the away side in the second minute of three added-on at the conclusion of the match when Vauls' long free-kick caught us out but the striker sent his shot wide without troubling Hoskins.

The players went straight down the tunnel for a few minutes after the final shrill of Mr Devlin's whistle before re-emerging for the trophy lift and receive their winners medal. They then went on a well deserved lap of honour, shame that there were few fans to help them celebrate.

For a very hardworking performance up front, on-loan striker Kee took home the last Man of the Match beers back home with him. Hoskins and Gibson did okay as did Jamie Ingram who made his debut for the Club as a second half substitute.

Plenty of shots for both sides but very few of them hit the target. We had another win in the xG column by the way; how many times has that happened this season quite frankly?

Certainly is @Dan - nice to see you back in here.

2024-2025 Season: The Final Countdown

With apologies to Joey Tempest and the rest of the hard rock band Europe…

So we go into the final week of games on a bit of a roll, we last tasted a league loss in November when Coagh United defeated us 2-0 at Hagan Park and since then everyone has bought in and contributed to our success.. There has been injuries, players rested but each of the team has known their role in the line up and done it to perfection. 

When things click, it's pleasing as….

However, what makes it even more sweeter is that it has been done against the odds. Armagh City were expected to win the title by the fourth estate, and they're now looking at finish halfway. We were expected to finish 13th, Ken was hoping for the same but look at us. With an average home attendance of less than 200 and a bank balance not even breaking the £500 barrier then it's astonishing. One can only hope that the success this season is rewarded in the finances for 2025-26. Whilst we have a fair bit of wriggle room as regards the wage budget, we're spending £258 a week on wages at the moment against a wage budget of £908 a week, the transfer budget remains at a big fat zero. There is so much untapped potential here it's unreal, even the stadium has the possibility to be expanded to 4000 from its current level of 2000.

But only one person can make the difference, and his name is Ken Green. And he's not nicknamed “Ebeneezer Scrooge” by some of us for nothing….

Whilst we are in a comfortable position, the battle for the runners-up slot is still undecided. Currently in the driving seat are Newington who won 4-3 away at Knockbreda last Saturday whilst Coagh United, who started the day second, slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Portstewart. The final day sees Coagh host Distillery who harbour hopes of finishing third, whilst Newington play Banbridge Town. Whoever finishes in that runners-up spot takes on the Championship's 11th placed side, Dollingstown, over two legs. Institute, 12th in the Championship, are already down,

Friday night under the lights is going to be special, especially as we get the trophy.  I just hope there's a decent crowd through the turnstiles at The Dub.

2024-2025 Season: Late show sees Banbridge banished for another three point haul

We have just two matches left to play, and then another season closes. Unlike last season,  there's nothing on the international calendar to take in after the Euros in Germany last year. Therefore it might be a close season where a much needed break in warmer climes could be in the offing, somewhere sun-kissed with a golden beach away from the grind.

After all, we all have to switch off from time to time otherwise we burn out.

Saturday is the penultimate home match of the season as we host Banbridge Town at The Dub. They have nothing to play for but personal pride as they can't be relegated nor can they get into the end of season play-off shootout. We have not had the best of luck when playing them, with no wins in the four meetings so far. Will this see the tide change? Well the bookies certainly believe it will as they have made us 4-6 favourites to bag another three points this season. Banbridge are an astonishing 4-1 to surprise us and inflict a rare loss whilst you can get 11-4 if you believe that the teams are going to end up shaking hands at the end on a draw. Winning is the only option in our mindset however…

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance; 90 (3 away)

After seeing off Armagh City seven days ago, we decided to go with an unchanged starting eleven for Banbridge's visit. This meant that Joshua Kee continued to partner Jonathan Doyle up front with the option of bringing on the hugely talented David Taylor should we need to freshen up the strike force at any given moment in the game. Connor Maxwell keeps his place at left-back ahead of new signing Lewis Loughlin as he hopes to convert his season-long loan from Ards into a permanent deal. Banbridge make just the single change to their starting eleven with Jordan King coming in on the left wing for Liam Vaughan who isn't even on the substitutes bench for the Town. Highly rated teenage winger Scott Gormley will be hoping to have another stellar game against us, he's been a real thorn in our side in those previous meetings. Today's referee is Tim Marshall of Irvinestown, a quick return for the official who was the man in the middle here when we drew 3-3 with Ballymacash Rangers at the start of last month.

We were expected by most pundits and football fans alike to dish out a bit of a hammering to the visitors. and almost opened the scoring after just three minutes play. A good team move involving four different players ended up with Portuguese winger Alexandre Machado driving over the top and not troubling Craig O'Sullivan in the away goal. Machado was desperate to score, having last found the net on 8 February with our final goal when we humbled Newington 4-1 on home turf. Chances continued to be created and Banbridge even repelled a free kick from Callum McVeigh when he had a set piece in his trademark danger area just outside the penalty area. In a rare foray from the away side, they thought they had scored after half an hour with their first shot of the match: King with a dangerous low cross that was steered home by Graham Ward but the teenager had drifted offside.

With the half time statistic showing a shot count of 14 to 2 in our favour, we felt hugely disappointed as we had only put two of those 14 on target. Wasting chances you could say. The second half was literally a carbon copy, us dominating and Banbridge soaking it up like a sponge whilst waiting to hit us on the break. With things not seemingly working out, we made a double change as early as the 54th minute with the serious under-par Machado and Kee being replaced by Aaron Porter and Taylor. Hopefully this would end Banbridge's stubborn resistance. On the hour, Sam Morrow (now playing wide on the left) teed up Doyle but the top scorer shot inches over and then four minutes later the former Crusaders youngster angled a shot across O'Sullivan but saw it cannon off the far post and away to safety. Surely it wasn't going to be one of those afternoons?

Six minutes remained when the dam finally broke, and the relief certainly was palpable. Following a period of head tennis, Taylor played the ball infield to his skipper Johnny Wilson who struck it first time from fully 30 yards and out of the reach of O'Sullivan for 1-0. That encouraged Banbridge to push forward and forego their defensive tactics as they sought a backs to the walls point, Ward shooting over from the edge of the area in a rare effort on goal. A minute after that shot, we made it safe with a second goal when Morrow's low cross from the left was met by a poachers finish from Taylor. In added time, Ben Mitchell headed against the post from a McVeigh corner, Taylor somehow shot over when strike partner Doyle teed him up before scoring our third with the final chance of the match in the third of three minutes added-on: a free header from inside the six yard box after Morrow had stood up an inch perfect cross to him; his 17th goal of a quite remarkable season. The only gripe, the crowd….less than 100 for the league champions!

For the seventh time this season, Sam Morrow took home the Man of the Match beers with him. The former Crusaders youth prospect has created 17 of our goals this season, despite having a month and a half out injured.

Absolute domination. But more than half of those shots were off target which isn't pleasing. That said, just look at our xG - mindblowing! I'd love to know our XG over the season however….

2024-2025 Season: Just a normal week, well as normal as football allows you to be…

Just two matches remain and season number two in the book. We're making gigantic steps forward at the moment and boy that feels just fine and dandy to be fair. We have improved so much from the dark days of December 2023 when we couldn't buy a win for love or money and many were predicting us for relegation to the fourth tier. But a change of formation sparked an upturn in form and silverware arriving in the terms of the Steel and Sons Cup, and this season in the shape of our first ever league title since the Club was formed in 1956.

Whilst we were still celebrating in Armagh, spare a thought for Donegal Celtic. Promoted to the third tier, they were relegated after just one season in the Intermediate League. Their 2-0 loss at Queens and Limavady United's 4-2 home win over Portstewart made it bad news for DC and their supporters. Who replaces them in the Intermediate League for 2025-26 is still unknown.

Sunday meant a game for the “Under 18” team as they hosted the Glentoran second string at The Dub, and it was a chastening experience for them as the Glens inflicted a 5-1 humbling on them. David Fisher scored a hat-trick against them and if it wasn't for on-loan keeper Paddy Hoskins then it could have been more embarrassing. The only goal came from winger Sean Hill, who admitted to me after the game that he has been given an offer to play for the afore-mentioned Donegal Celtic next season and is seriously mulling it over. Hill was one of my first signings when I came here in 2023 and scored that dramatic winner that won us the Steel and Sons Cup against Moyola Park. With Sam Morrow first choice in Hill's favoured right wing spot, and the highly regarded Aaron Porter being a more capable back-up: Hill's first team chances are remote.

Over the next couple of days, we held several meetings with the youth team. The good thing was that each of the new intake whom we offered youth contracts to recently, were accepted which means that we will have more than enough options for that team next season and it won't be reliant on being supplemented by players who can't get in the first team picture. That said, if a senior player is coming back from a long term injury then he might get a game or so to assist in their rehabilitation. Hopefully season 2025-26 will see more fixtures for the players in the reserves as we strive to improve season by season in our ambitious project of being established in European club competitions by 2032-33 and playing in the Premiership alongside the likes of Linfield, Glentoran and Purple Bricks FC (Larne) etc.

Summer is going to mean that we are going to trim the squad with players who aren't first team regulars being released unless they have accepted deals elsewhere in advance. The end of the week saw both Mohammad Butt and Hill accept the offers that had been placed in front of them. Butt has already left, joining Northern League side North Shields, whilst Hill has agreed to join Donegal Celtic when the Northern Irish transfer window opens for business on 9 June 2025. The plan is to have enough players for every position covered. In some areas though we're overloaded, and we know that, so players in those positions will be the ones that we will be looking to cull more than most.

Banbridge Town at The Dub on Saturday, as always we will be going for the win.  No other option. We want to leave this division with as many points as possible, it won't top the 70 accumulated by Bangor in 2022-23 but to break the 60 point barrier would be just grand. We're on 56 at the moment…

Interesting story, keep it going!

Nice blend of text and graphics here, must admit I prefer my text to be justified rather than centered. Other than this, I'm liking this mate,

2024-2025 Season: Clipping the Eagles wings

Signing that new contract gave everyone a boost. It might only be a one-year extension, I really wanted to make a statement and sign a two year deal personally, but staying here shows to all and sundry that everyone is on the same page. We're a season ahead, as I've said beforehand, of the plan I had in my own mind when I agreed to take the reins in July 2023. Every campaign is a learning circle based on what the previous one achieved.

The day after the contract signing, I was in the stands watching the new intake of youth prospects take on virtually our second string in a behind closed doors “bounce” match. The game ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw with the youngsters showing great qualities to come back from a 3-1 deficit. David Brennan put them into a 22nd minute lead with a “route one” effort: a long goal kick from Kyle Kenny and Brennan tucked it past Paddy Hoskins. A four minute brace from Joshua Kee , his second on the stroke of half time, put the experienced guys 2-1 after 45 minutes. Winger John-Joe MacDonald extended the lead two minutes after the restart and you could have thought that the kids would be on the receiving of a thrashing, But they responded, keen to impress for a youth contract and Brennan scored his second with a penalty given for a foul by Owen Madine (who had missed a penalty of his own earlier) on Rene Jansen. Jansen levelled matters with ten left to ensure a share of the spoils.

As I spoke to Neal Smyth post-game about which players impressed and deserved a youth contract, I was advised that North Shields had offered Mohammad Butt a chance to resume his career back over the water. Butt, 24, was signed as back uo to Zach Annett last season but he's now become pretty much fourth choice in that position and was one of the lads I was going to release in the summer. Anyway, we have decided to give 10 of the 12 youth candidates a deal with Graeme Irwin and Keith Chalmers being the ones to miss out. 

So attention then moved to Saturday, and our final away game of the season as we finish with back to back home matches against Banbridge Town and Moyola Park. Armagh at home in December was an eventful game; we won 4-1 but lost Alexandre Machado, Sam Morrow and Jonathan Doyle to injury in it for various spells on the sidelines. With the title in the bag, then there is very pressure but naturally we want to keep the momentum high ahead of the new season which will be here quicker than you can imagine. Despite everything, Armagh are the bookies favourites to take the three points on home soil. They are 7-4 to take a home win, whilst we are best priced at 7-5. If you believe that we will shake hands on a draw then you can get that at 5-2. 

Holm Park, Armagh

Attendance: (away)

So it would be easy to completely reshuffle the team after winning the league just seven days previous, but we don't do things like this here. Actually we made just the two changes with Joshua Kee replacing David Taylor up front and Connor Maxwell in for Lewis Loughlin at left back. Top scorer Jonathan Doyle hasn't scored for a game or so will be overdue a strike if he wants to get to the 20 goal mark this season which he told me was his personal target for the campaign. Shea Campbell's home side have made zero changes from their last game as they plan to bag the second place and a play-off spot against the 11th placed side from the Championship. They're seven points away with just three matches to play (including this one) so it seems very unlikely they'll achieve it. This afternoon's referee is Glenn Buchanan of Ballycastle,

Before the game, Armagh pleasantly surprised us with this - a guard of honour in recognition of congratulating us on our recent title success. What a nice touch from the Eagles.

Despite that guard of honour, there was no way that the Eagles of Armagh were going to roll over and allow us to take the points just because we are the newly crowned Champions. This was illustrated as early as the second minute when they almost opened the scoring when their Scottish striker Ché Reilly drilled in an effort from range that Ryan Dalzell turned brilliantly around the post. From the resultant flag kick taken by Reilly, Dermot McCaffrey saw his header clip the crossbar and over. Five minutes after this warning, we opened the scoring when a slick team move was finished with a finish high into the roof of the net by Callum McVeigh: his 15th goal of the season. We doubled the lead on the quarter hour, McVeigh with a teasing corner that was met by a downward header from central defender Andrew Ferguson. Just after the half hour, Armagh went close again when a powerful effort from Reilly forced Dalzell into another smart save at his near post.

The second half was only a matter of eight minutes old when we bagged a third. A superb counter attack saw the recalled Kee clip the ball over the top of the Eagles defence and top scorer Doyle shrugged off the attentions of Lewis Reid to run on and beat James Carson high at his near post. Reid pulled one back in the 65th minute with a spot kick high into the net; given for a trip on Darren Lyon by Sam Morrow. Four minutes after that Armagh goal, we regained that three goal advantage with a penalty of our own: awarded for a foul by Ross Clark on Ben Mitchell as they jostled for the ball from a McVeigh free kick. Ferguson stepped up as usual and sent Carson the wrong way for his 14th of the season: a remarkable feat for a defender. Shades of Steve Bruce in the 1990-91 season at Manchester United, eh? Armagh halved the deficit with 17 minutes to go when Lyon fired in an unstoppable effort from a good 30 yards or so which Dalzell or any keeper wouldn't have saved. We saw it home after that goal to make it an astonishing 16 games unbeaten. Phenomenal.

In a game where there were a number of solid performances, the Man of the Match beers were taken home by the veteran central defender himself Andrew Ferguson for the second time this season. Well played old man, haha!

They had twice as many shots as us, and more possession but that means nothing here as the points go back down the road. We were just more clinical when it mattered the most. Another great xG for the boys too….

Thanks fella, keeps me active whilst also writing my own wee story in the obscure Northern Irish leagues. 👍 

2024-2025 Season: A new contract and a pay rise

The first thing that was on my mind after that dramatic home win against Coagh, was to talk shop with Ken. But Ken was too  busy, wrapped up in his own wee bubble, well it's not every day that your team wins a league title against the odds. So we decided to excuse him that, but I was determined to get my own future sorted out now the title had been secured. I didn't want to do it at any other time as it might have distracted the Lads attention spans in the final run-in and cause them to get to complacent.

But we have the title in the bag now, and with three games to spare. We can go into those three matches with the handbrake off and play with freedom and make this title that more convincing. We're 12 points clear at present, wouldn't be nice to finish it as we started, winning. Today's triumph marks a second trophy in as many seasons, and for me it's justification for staying loyal despite the approaches of Kettering Town, Crusaders and Linfield so far. Will it be enough to turn Ken's head when it comes to discussing a new deal, and cause him to open the old biscuit tin for a potential pay rise? 

24 hours after the euphoria, the “Under 18's” side took to the field to take on Linfield Swifts three weeks after playing each other. On-loan striker Joshua Kee gave them a sixth minute lead but three unanswered goals from Gerard Storey, Chris McKee and Ethan Devine put the Swifts 3-1 ahead by half time. Kee scored his and our second of the game in the 63rd minute but Devine completed his hat-trick with goals in the final none minutes to secure a 2-5 win for the Swifts. During half time, Johnny Wilson approached me to advise any concerns he did have about the depth of the squad as a whole are to be dismissed with immediate effect. Amazing what winning a league title has on folk, eh? That said I've got some serious decisions to make in the summer - who to keep and who to release?

Later in the week, we had a very busy Thursday from the get go. It began with Head of Youth Development Neal Smyth and Director of Football Callum McGuigan introducing the new intake of youth prospects, all 12 of them. They will feature in a behind closed doors “bounce” game where those who perform are going to be offered youth team contracts. Shortly after had that meeting finished, Ken had requested me to see him in his office where he was wanting to talk “shop” over a new contract. The meeting lasted half an hour with me stating what I wanted with Ken giving his two pennerth worth from the Club's perspective. Naturally Ken was wanting to give me the same terms that I have had for the first two seasons, which goes to show what a Scrooge he is. Eventually we agreed terms on the following contract:

It might be only a new one year deal, but a £10 a week increase is massive for this standard especially that it's better to be in my pocket than Scrooge Ken's. Not only the new deal but Ken's also announced an increase in the wage budget - is he feeling OK? And he's not increased it a little, he's increased it massively from £245 per week to an astonishing £908 a week: a 329% increase!

Way to go Kenny lad!

Whatever next? An actual transfer budget? Maybe that's asking for miracles….

2024-2025 Season: Deal sealed, joy as we are the champions!

When Callum McVeigh's right foot connected with the ball in the second minute of time added-on in the second half, I had no doubts what was going to happen next. It was destined to evade the despairing dive of William Hassan in the Coagh United goal and cause the netting to ripple. Four minutes later, Gareth O'Donnell sounded a long shrill of his whistle for the final time on Saturday afternoon. Not only had we won for the 16th time in 23 matches this season and avoided the Coagh double, but it meant unbridled joy as we were crowned as Playr-Fit Intermediate League Champions for the first time ever and my second piece of silverware in as many seasons.

How bloody good does this feel? Answer: shedloads.

The mood in the dressing room is one of elation, especially now we have got the big prize over the line with three games to spare. Mr Happy himself, Craig Briers, was quite complementary when the fourth estate asked him his thoughts:

Time to ask Ken about a new contract, eh? Hopefully the title win will encourage him to give oneself here a pay rise, it's deserved right?

Next Challenge? To become an established Championship side and ideally get promotion to the Premiership by the end of the fourth season in the second tier, sixth overall. We're ahead of the plan at the present moment. Time to kick on….

2024-2025 Season: Callum crowns it!

We knew the forthcoming Saturday could be one of the defining days in the club's history. Since the Club was formed in 1956, 68 years ago, we have never won a league title at all. We have been runners-up twice but second isn't exactly first is it? So a home win over Coagh United would create a very unique brand of history for an extra special bunch of men that have been quite simply awesome this season.

And creating memories is what keeps us all energised.

The boys have trained well this week, and we have a fully fit squad in which to make our team selection from. That said our visitors from Coagh, in County Tyrone, are determined to be the party poopers. They are just one of two league clubs, Rathfriland Rangers being the other, that have beaten us this season in the Intermediate League this season and nothing would give them great pleasure in completing a double over us and putting our title champions well and truly on ice but we don't want that to happen do we?  The bookies are of the thought that we are going to be in celebratory mode come 4:30pm on Saturday afternoon as they have made us 10-11 favourites to clinch the title with three games to spare. Coagh have been priced at 11-4 to complete their double over us whilst it's 13-5 for a draw which would also do us to kickstart the title celebrations in BT9.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 156 (5 away)

I knew that we had to field our strongest possible side for this match against Coagh, and that meant picking the best players in the positions on the field. So I made just the single change and that was to give a full debut to new signing Lewis Loughlin at left back over Ards loanee Connor Maxwell who has been quite exceptional in that position for us. If Lewis struggles, then we know full well that we have a more than adequate replacement ready to step in the breach. Coagh are unchanged from their last match and start both Niall Bayly and Jourdan Shearer who scored the goals for them in the 2-0 win earlier this season as well as Jack McFeely who was once a target for us when we were looking to bring in a striker: his personal demands made it a non-starter. This afternoon's referee is Gareth O'Donnell from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

The rain was falling incessantly as we kicked off this huge match which had so many sub-plots entwined inside it. However, there appeared to be quite a small crowd in residence for it, perhaps the afore-mentioned weather had had some effect on it. Perhaps some of the locals had decided to go shopping at the nearby Lesley Forestside complex at Upper Galwally or do their food shop at the huge Tesco at Newtownbreda?  Well we had a job to do, and send the majority of those hardy souls home happy. The first real threat on goal came in the 27th minute when some intelligent play by Shearer set up McFeely whose shot from distance was inches over. Four minutes later, Coagh took the lead when Kai McCormick's right wing was misjudged by Callum McVeigh, back defending, and McFeely steadied himself before drilling an effort across Ryan Dalzell and into the far bottom corner.

However the four minutes of time added-on, saw the game turned on its head. The second of those saw an equaliser for us when Loughlin teed up skipper Johnny Wilson who skipped away from the attentions of opposing skipper Stuart Glasgow to create himself a bit of room and then use the Coagh defence as a screen to curl home a beautiful effort beyond William Hassan. Moments later, we were ahead when Sam Morrow's free kick was half cleared by Bell to Andrew Ferguson who put into the danger area where Craig Briers' goalbound effort was somehow blocked by Matthew Gorman for a corner. From that corner, taken by Morrow, Ben Mitchell powered in a header to make it 2-1 to us at the interval. Hassan produced a superb save to turn another Wilson effort around the post two minutes after the restart before McVeigh latched onto David Taylor's headed pass to send a shot that drifted wide of Hassan's goal as we pushed for a third.

They say games change in an instant and that was proven in the 57th minute. In one passage of play, Craig Briers' cross was headed by Jonathan Doyle against the post and on the resultant counter attack: McFeely picked out Glasgow to net with a deflected effort to put the visitors on parity. We almost regained the lead three minutes later when McVeigh's floated free kick was headed inches over by Ferguson. The game was really up for grabs, and as it headed into the final stages then we knew we were still going to be crowned as champions if the scoreline stayed as it was. With two minutes to go, we almost regained the lead when a wonderful cross from Loughlin was headed just by McVeigh. However the midfield maestro was to have the final say in time added on at the end when we were awarded a free kick 25 yards out; McVeigh stepped up to produce another magical moment to send the free kick into the top corner past a despairing Hassan. Cue absolute scenes.

In a performance which was more like his usual high standard, former Crusaders youngster Sam Morrow took home the Man of the Match beers home with him. A nice return to form after his injury woes.

We produced a performance that was the hallmark of champions, and got the result that secured it. It was a shame that both their shots on target ended up in our net but the three points and title belong to us.

2024-2025 Season: Ready for the final month…

Our nine goal thriller wasn't the only game that had goals, and plenty of them, in it. Overall, the league had a total of 46 goals scored across the seven matches which were played. You could say in a lot of cases, ours included, defences had a day off and were leaking left, right and bloody centre to be fair. The highest scoring game was at actually at Inver Park in Larne where Newington defeated Lisburn Distillery 7-5 with 16 year old central defender Michael Tipping scoring a hat trick to take him to 12 goals in his first full season. 

That result in Larne had significant ramifications for ourselves as it meant that meant Distillery are unable to catch us in terms of points, and that a point in our next game would secure Championship football next season for us with three games to spare. A win however for us as you can see, would crown us as Champions and promotion in one fell swoop.

At the foot of the table, it's looking like Donegal Celtic's stay in the Intermediate League is going to be brief. They probably need to win out, as in win every single they have left, and hope that those above them collapse. Their last game is against 13th placed Limavady, but they might be down by then.

Our final month of fixtures is as follows:

Ironically Coagh United, who we play next, are the only side that can realistically deny us silverware. They are also one of two sides, Rathfriland Rangers being the other, that have defeated us in league play this season. The fact we are at home for the Coagh game could mean a bit of champagne cork popping on Saturday afternoon if everything goes to plan.

Time to lift it one more time, glory awaits us. 

As the Tottenham logo states the obvious: “To Dare Is To Do”

2024-2025 Season: Goals galore but destiny is just a point away now

Like every club, we want to be playing every week to keep the team fresh and focused but the way the fixtures are in this division means you might go through periods where you have a fixture here and then your next one is a number of weeks afterwards. And so this was the case here in Northern Ireland where we had league fixtures at the start and end of March. 

Thank heavens we had that Intermediate Cup quarter final in the middle of the month to give us some valuable match activity.

Our final match this month sees us back on the road again, this time to the north of the province where we play a team that needs points at the bottom of the division as much as we need them at the top. Limavady United, whom a number of pundits had predicted pre-season to be champions, host us in a banana skin game which could let those below us gain a slither of hope should the home side pull off a surprise home three point haul. However, the bookies don't think that this is going to happen and the match is going to go with form and current league standing. They have made us 5-6 favourites to drive back with another three points to the cause whist Limavady are 3-1 to record that shock home win. It's 13-5 if you believe this match is going to end in a draw.

Limavady Showgrounds, Limavady

Attendance: 110 (4 away)

Just a single change for us from the side that narrowly lost to the Mallards a fortnight ago. That change is a recall back to the starting eleven for Sam Morrow who proved he was ready for a return after completing two “Under 18” games injury-free following a three week injury absence with a groin strain. He replaces Aaron Porter on the right wing, with the teenage winger dropping down to the substitutes bench. Also on the bench is Joshua Kee, who was cup-tied for the Mallards game as well as new signing Lewis Loughlin who was acquired on Wednesday. Limavady make a single change themselves with Andy Whiteside coming in for the veteran Hugh Carlin in the midfield engine room. There are two former PSNI players in their starting eleven too, goalkeeper Jonah Magill who turned down a new deal in the summer with us to join the home team as well as striker Jay McDowell who had a less than an impressive loan spell with us earlier this season. He's joined the Roesiders on a half season loan from parent club Dungannon Swifts. This afternoon's referee is Jason Gillespie from Ballygawley which is not in Austraila….

Any thought that we believed this was going to be an easy ride today was answered with a warning shot in the 12th minute when central defender Cameron Purdy sent a header over our crossbar after connecting with a Mark Caldwell corner kick. Our response came four minutes later with a similar move when the recalled Morrow heading over from a Callum McVeigh flag kick, Then the game really sprung to life in the final stages of the opening 45, David Taylor sending an effort just inches over before Whiteside's long range effort smacking against the crossbar. With six minutes to the break, McVeigh curled in another magical free kick from range to give Magill no hope and us the lead. Two minutes later, Johnny Wilson sent Alexandre Machado racing away down the left to tee up Jonathan Doyle for 0-2 with a simple finish. The Roesiders halved the deficit immediately Whiteside setting up McDowell to score against his old club before in injury time we restored the two goal advantage three minutes into time added on when Graham Crown baulked Ben Mitchell when challenging for a McVeigh corner; Andrew Ferguson once doing the honours from twelve yards out.

The second half was only a shade over 38 seconds old when we made it 1-4; Machado putting Doyle in the clear and his pass was cushioned home with a sweet volley by skipper Wilson. 4-1 and looking comfortable, and the home side were wondering what they had to do as nothing was going their way: typified when the veteran Michael McCrudden was clean through but Ryan Dalzell stood tall to deny him with a great block. We made it 5-1 in the 63rd minute when McVeigh played a one-two with Taylor before continuing his run and lifting an effort over the onrushing Magill for the nap hand. Yet that should have been the cue for more goals and a record win but we switched off, making the debuts of Keelan Gibson and Loughlin from the bench a weird feeling indeed. The raft of changes for us just unsettled us and gave Limavady hope when all seemed lost.

It became 2-5 in the 69th minute with a goal that Dalzell will not want to see again even when you replay it him: a pot shot from McCrudden 25 yards out that went right through the keeper and found the net. Sensing we were potentially wobbling, they continued to come forward and McDowell smacked one against the post as we looked at each other. With 11 minutes left, they got within two goals again when McCrudden poached his second of the afternoon with a tidy finish. Seconds later, the deficit was down to one when veteran winger Ian Parkhill screamed one in from the edge of the area. Squeaky bum time but we managed to see it out with no further goals conceded. Another win towards the P word but by gosh, we didn't half make hard work of it!

Despite being on the losing side today, McCrudden took the Man of the Match beers home with him. He edged it just from McVeigh and Doyle who both had excellent games for us.

An absolute spectacle of a game as shown in the game statistics. Both sides played their part in an exceptional game that was entertaining for all, wasn't too good for a manager's heart rate at times. Especially the last 20 minutes from my perspective…

2024-2025 Season: It's just called going through the motions…

I didn't feel hurt by the loss in the Intermediate Cup quarter-final against Ballinamallard United, only a sense of pride that we had competed with a side one division above us and with a better financial model than us. In fact, the run in this competition has seen the Club move into the black as regards our bank balance for the first time since I took charge. It's not much but it's probably going to augur well for next season where hopefully a division higher means more financial rewards for us and enables us to grow as a club on and off the pitch. We should all feel proud of our efforts collectively.

Sunday was again spent watching our “Under 18” side who this time entertained Linfield Swifts, aka Linfield Reserves, at The Dub. Neal Smyth's side featured Sam Morrow, who completed a full 90 minutes without issue, and once more were involved in yet another high scoring encounter. The Blues second string took the honours 4-3 with our goals coming from Matthew Hanna, Cathal Farren and Joshua Kee: the latter having been cup-tied for the Ballinamallard game. It was whilst at the game that I was told we had until the end of March to make any free agent signings, which is a bonus when the main window closed at the end of January.  I'm already looking at letting some guys in certain positions go at the end of the season so if I can get maybe one or two free agents in then that'll be good business for us.

Again it appears that Owen Madine is sulking again, all because he cannot get into the side and in his favoured role. Well when Callum McVeigh is one of our best players in the team and as a consequence plays in Madine's role, I can't drop him. Madine just better get used to it. On the flip side, it was refreshing to see the reactions of “Alex” Machado, McVeigh and young Aaron Porter when I called all three in for a wee chat after training on Monday to congratulate both on their impressive form in the last few weeks. All were appreciative, which is what you want when you're signalling players out for praise and not like what Briers is like when you praise him. 

The last weekend of March is upon us, and a quick glance at the table means it could be season defining as they say. We head west to face struggling Limavady United and know full well that should we win there and the Newington-Distillery game ends in a draw then we will be Champions with four games to spare. But let's not get too carried away, I haven't heard anyone else mention it on the training ground so it seems like that it's gone under the radar or they're keeping their feet and emotions on the ground. Either way is good though. I have managed though to get this free agent in, which means that it's one position that's got quality in place.. Haven't yet decided whether or not to give him an instant debit Saturday. Welcome to The Dub Lewis Loughlin!

Lewis Loughlin, our newest recruit, is a 20 year old left back who came through the youth team ranks at Ballinamallard before joining Fivemiletown United in the summer of 2023. A very impressive debut season for the Town saw him snapped up by Coleraine but he was released by the Bannsiders at the start of December. He went on trial with Donegal Celtic at the start of 2025 but failed to earn a deal with them but we've had him on our radar still for a while and have now made him the latest member of our squad. He will now battle with loan signing Connor Maxwell for the starting role at left back which means I might be releasing either one or both out of Zach Annett and Mohammad Butt. 

Whilst also looking for an upgrade, I think we're a but top heavy in other positions but haven't decided who to release in the summer but there will be a number of departures for sure. We should be getting a new intake of potential apprentices which should give us additional options. All in all, season three should be interesting when it comes around.

A good manager's work is never done, we're always on the go. 

First of all, congratulations on getting the League 1 title to the trophy cabinet. Now for another step up in standard.

Like the idea of a mini pre-season tour outside of where you play. Always good to also try and throw in a couple of prestigious home friendlies if possible to get some revenue in before season starts. The more your reputation as a club grows, the better the chance of attracting a high quality opponent but it will obviously cost more in a fee for the opponent to play. Swings and roundabouts.

That said, what's capacity of home stadium now? I know I'm pre-empting here but are we looking 20K as a minimum capacity should we make the elite PL or one like for example: AFCB, Luton Town?

Either way, keep up the good work on this exceptional save 👍

2024-2025 Season: Cup dream over as Mallards edge a thriller

We are prepared as well as we can be, and the Mallards are about to land at the Dub for a quarter-final in the Intermediate Cup. When we started the season way back in August, the plan for this competition was to do as well as we could. In reality, if we could get to the Second Round stage then it would be considered an achievement in itself. But here we are, just two games away from an unexpected Final appearance.

And reaching Cup Finals can only increase the club's reputation, yeah?

We might have played Premiership sides Crusaders and Purple Bricks FC (Larne) in my short time here; but those were away from home so these ducks will be the biggest side we have hosted from outside our own division so far. That said, in both of those matches we didn't disgrace ourselves at all, losing 2-0 in each. So perhaps after disposing of Ballinmallard's fellow Championship side Annagh United in the round previous that our luck against higher ranked opponents is changing for the better. However, the bookies think that this will be the round where we finally exit the competition as they have made the Mallards narrow 11-10 favourites to make the semi-final stage. We have been best priced at 11-5 to add another higher ranked opponent to our list of scalps whilst a 90 minute draw is available at 5-2.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 200 (54 away)

We made just the single change from the side that drew 3-3 a fortnight ago in the Intermediate League with Ballymacash Rangers, and that was an enforced one as top scorer Jonathan Doyle came in for the cup-tied Joshua Kee. Other than that, it was pretty much as you were for the starting eleven. Cathal Farren provided striking cover from the substitutes bench which also had the sight of Sam Morrow. Sam had completed 61 minutes a week in an Under 18 match, and whilst still not fully fit: he was fit enough to make a cameo appearance should we want to phase him back into the first team. That said we have also pencilled him for another outing in the “Under 18" squad's match against Linfield Swifts tomorrow afternoon. The Mallards made a couple of changes with Calvin Brown and Darragh Byrne coming in for Yusuf Mersin and Dale McCreery. This afternoon's at a rain soaked Dub is Neill Gillespie of Ballymena.

The main thing that was said before kick-off was, do not concede early but what do we go and do: concede an early goal. It came after just three minutes when the visitors worked the ball well around the area before it landed at the feet of Scott McArthur who calmly picked his spot twelve yards out with a measured finish into the far corner. Our response was to go straight on the offensive with Callum McVeigh having an effort well held by Brown and then Aaron Porter playing in David Taylor, who held off Peter Maguire, but poked his effort just wide of the far post. We were lucky not to go two behind when Byrne's cross was deflected onto his own crossbar by Andrew Ferguson, yet we did level in the 19th minute when Alexandre Machado stood up a cross for Porter to net with a well judged downward header past Brown. Ballinmallard restored their lead after 26 minutes when Ferguson was adjudged to have been a bit too aggressive on McArthur as they challenged for a ball played forward by Dan Rooney. Penalty. Right-back Gary Armstrong stepped forth and made no mistake,

Eight minutes before half time, and we were level for a second time when a brilliant counter attack started in the right back spot by Craig Briers was eventually finished by a poacher's finish by Taylor. Five minutes later, it was 2-3 when McArthur bagged his second of the game with a thunderous effort that kissed the far post and in. The second half was just entertaining as McVeigh and Machado both went close in the early stages after the restart, Yet the Mallards weren't sitting back either as Galvin forced Ryan Dalzell into a full length save and Rooney skimmed the paintwork of the bar with a free kick from range. We tried to change our fortunes with a double substitution: McVeigh and Doyle off, Madine and Farren on. Pushing forward meant gaps and the Mallards had the best of the final minutes, substitute Kenny Ximenes having a header clawed away by Dalzell, fellow substitute Alex Holder sending a weak shot straight to the custodian and then going close with a shot from distance which Dalzell had to tip over as it arrowed towards top bins.

So the Cup journey comes to an end, been quite a ride hasn't it? We can now concentrate on the league campaign, five games to create our own little bit of history.

Despite being on the losing side, Portuguese winger Alexandre Machado was given the Man of the Match beers which were of course: bottle of Sagres. He certainly gave the impression he can play at a higher level than the Intermediate League.

Possession aside, we were better in all aspects than our Championship-level opponent. That's got to give us some extra impetus to get into the Championship and take our game to the next level. 

2024-2025 Season: Sorry seems to be the hardest word in a busy old world

"I can't do it, sorry but I really can't. Imagine the fallout."

Those were the words I said to Roy McGivern on the phone when I returned his call about the managerial vacancy at Linfield Football Club. Roy sighed, he was generally interested in talking to me as the potential successor to David Healy at the National Football Stadium. I explained that if he did choose me then the fallout would be absolutely off the scale. Linfield are Belfast's answer to Glasgow Rangers, pure and simple from the home kit to the fan base. Everything is the polar opposite to my background, and I just didn't want to cause the equivalent of World War 3 to happen in South Belfast, not at all. Because that's what would have happened if Roy had chosen me and I had accepted the role. Whilst I had been the target of some choice phrases in the Ballymacash games, it would be nothing compared to Windsor.

I just didn't think the hassle was worth it, and Roy reluctantly agreed to leave it at that.

With no first team match on the second Saturday in March, the “Under 18” team took centre stage at The Dub when they hosted Annagh United's second string. The 20 spectators present were treated to an absolute goal fest as the teams played out an enthralling 5-5 draw with both sides bagging four goals apiece in the first 45. Daniel Reynolds and Cathal Farren starred for us but the main thing was to get some minutes in for Sam Morrow in his comeback from injury, Sam played the first 61 minutes before going off in a pre-arranged substitution. The good thing was that he reported no issues following his run out which is important if he wants to be in contention for the Ballinamallard Intermediate Cup quarter-final.

I've been thinking about the loan signings we have. Currently we have six on the books, all whom are having their wages paid by their parent clubs so we're not losing money with that. This is how each are faring:

Paddy Hoskins: Goalkeeper on loan from Newry City. Has played twice for the first team, conceding two goals. A good choice as Ryan Dalzell's back up, might consider him for a second loan spell next season whatever division we are in.

Connor Maxwell: Left back on loan from Ards. Has made 28 appearances in the first team, scoring 3 goals. Started off slow but has firmly established himself as the first choice in his position now. On a £50 a week contract at Ards which expires end of June. Would be a good freebie if we can entice him in.

Jamie Ingram: Teenage central defender on loan from Loughgall. Yet to appear for us and his signing was not taken well by the fans either. On a £10 a week contract at Loughgall, can't see him in my plans for next season whatever division we're in. Feels like a bit of a panic signing now to be fair.

Keelan Gibson: Another teenage central defender on loan; this time from Annagh United. Like Ingram, his signing wasn't taken well by the supporters and it again in the grand scheme of things: he seems to be a bit of a panic signing. No plans for him next season. On a youth team contract with Annagh, no wages.

Joshua Kee: Striker on loan from HW Welders. Has made 7 appearances in all competitions since arriving on New Year's Day, scoring 4 times. He has chipped in with goals when we need them, either by starting or from the bench. On a £75 a week contract with the Welders, would like to have him in next season.

David Taylor: Second of two strikers we have taken on loan, this time from Ballymena United. Has made 23 appearances so far with 14 goals netted, which have come in bunches after a slow beginning. On a £75 a week with the Sky Blues which expires June 2026. My number one transfer target in the summer.

The Mallards are in town Saturday, can we make the Intermediate Cup semi-final?  Will be a test indeed, especially if we're up against them in the Championship next season. Believe in yourselves, right? Don't go quackers and duck out of your obligations once you cross that white line. Anything is possible to be fair.

Well that's what Da would have told me…

2024-2025 Season: The big fish comes a calling

When David Taylor's 93rd minute effort flew past Ballymacash Rangers Brian Neeson and caused the net to ripple, the relief was palpable all around The Dub. It had extended our league unbeaten streak to an astonishing ten games with just five league matches to play. I had honestly given up myself, we were destined for a loss that I was sure of but the lads summoned one last attack and their risk was rewarded even though it was not with a win a bonus. The 45 or so away supporters, who had been serenading me with some lesser than pleasant anthems throughout, were suddenly silent. I was convinced they wouldn't have been if their side had held on for just two or three minutes more.

The players knew we had gotten away with one there even though the statistics clearly demonstrated otherwise. 

Elsewhere in the grand scheme of things, the draw was much better than what Lisburn Distillery and Newington achieved in their matches against Knockbreda and lowly Portstewart respectively. Both lost to their opponents meaning that they can only get to 52 and 50 points from their respective remaining matches which is not going to happen anyway as they play each other in their round of league matches. Knockbreda won 4-2 in Lisburn, Portstewart 2-0 against the 'Ton in Round 21. The biggest winners on the day though were Coagh United who, with a 4-1 home win over Banbridge Town, jumped into second place pushing Distillery to third and Newington to fourth.

Sunday was time for another “Under 18” game at The Dub where Ballymena Ynited Reserves were in town, and some familiar faces for David Taylor to catch up with. After three consecutive draws, the home side were buoyant at the final whistle as they comfortably dispatched their visitors from the Town of the Seven Towers, 5-1 with five different scorers on target. Left winger John-Joe MacDonald was the star performer with a goal and an assist. Whilst the actual Under 18s don't get any match experience at the moment, it's at least giving non-first teamers some valuable games,

The rest of the next few days went like clockwork, until Tuesday morning and a surprise:

The biggest club in the province of Ulster want to talk to me about their vacant managerial position. They had sacked NI legend David Healy after almost nine and a half years recently, and with the Blues sitting in sixth place and 21 points adrift of leaders Purple Bricks FC in the Premiership: they are looking at me to revitalise their fortunes. I thought being approached by Crusaders was huge, but being now approached by Linfield is like next level. Has anyone advised Roy McGivern that his club's fans are going to go absolute ape should he decide to appoint me?

I mean it would be a bit of a weird appointment.

2024-2025 Season: DT saves a point, and the unbeaten record too!

It's simple as that, seven points from six games will get us promoted. But if everyone below us takes points off each other then it could be done without kicking a ball in anger. I mean I look back to 1993 when Manchester United's legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the GOAT when it comes to Premier League managers in my opinion above Pep and Wenger (Pep is the best non-UK Premier League Manager of All-Time), was on the golf course when news broke that nearest challengers Aston Villa (managed by SAF's predecessor at Old Trafford “Big” Ron Atkinson) had failed to beat Oldham Athletic at Villa Park.

Now I don't want anything similar to happen to us. I'm bald as it is with the stresses of this occupation.

This game on the first Saturday of March is also on Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, St David's Day to everyone else. We only have a couple of matches in the domestic league and will need to guard against complacency now - we have a target on our backs and teams will be wanting to shoot us down at every opportunity they get. If we're off it then we will probably lose, that's the nature of the beast. The bookies Saturday's game are going with form and have made us even money favourites to take home the points and inch closer to our destiny. If you think Ballymacash will surprise us or it will be a share of the spoils, then you can get 13-5 for either to happen. But we don't want that, we want a home win Saturday: right?

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 164 (45 away)

We made just a single alteration to the side that won The Dub Derby seven days previous. That came up front as Joshua Kee was chosen ahead of top scorer Jonathan Doyle who we are actually trying to wrap literally in cotton wool to ensure he completes the season injury-free. That said, I received a major news boost on the sidelined Sam Morrow, he is expected to be back in training in midweek which means also that he could be back in the starting eleven for the Intermediate Cup quarter-final against Sphere in a Duck United (JD's renaming of Ballinmallard United remember?) which is just a fortnight away. Ballymacash make three changes, two enforced because of suspension, and field two players who have featured in the Premiership for Glentoran: Dylan Davidson and Carl McComb. The same two are our visitors top scorers: 19 between them (10 - McComb, 9 - Davidson) so we will need to be wary. Today's referee at a wet Dub is Tim Marshall of Irvinestown who refereed us in our 3-3 draw at Banbridge Town in December. Could we get something similar?

We almost made a perfect start with the lead in the third minute, and I stress the phrase “almost made” as Kee latched onto Callum McVeigh superb slide rule pass to steer the ball across Brian Neeson and into the far corner of the net. However, the loan striker 's fourth “goal”  of the season was chalked off by a flag for offside against him. Five minutes later, Ballymacash stunned us by taking the lead with their first chance on goal when former Crusaders midfielder Dylan O'Hare lashed in an unstoppable effort from the edge of the area: his first goal in Ballymacash colours. Ten minutes later, we were back on terms when McVeigh repeated his goal against Queens with another sensational free kick effort. Quite remarkable. Aaron Porter should have put us ahead three minutes after McVeigh's goal but he headed wide from Johnny Wilson's cross. 

In the 36th minute, we took the lead when a back pass from Matthew Parker was seized upon by David Taylor who raced through unchallenged and steered the ball across to net via the inside of the far post. Yet we only led for two minutes as we gifted them the equaliser from a loose pass of our own, Connor Maxwell being the culprit, the left back's under hit pass going straight to Josh Cahoon who hit it first time from distance past Ryan Dalzell. McVeigh almost restored the lead in first half added-on time with another free kick but this time the effort was inches over. The midfielder tested Neeson twice in the second half before the away side restored their lead with twelve minutes to go when McComb picked up Lewis Higginson's pass and calmly arrowed it beyond Dalzell. We looked certain to heading for defeat but in the third minute of five added-on, levelled when Porter picked out Taylor who spun his marker McGuinness and lashed it into the net to spark incredible scenes. Absolute limbs.

For his two goals, and also for being an absolute nuisance up front where he gave Ballymacash the right old run a round, David Taylor was allowed to have the  Man of the Match beers again. Third time this season for the Ballymena United loanee.

To say I was feeling disappointed post-game is probably the understatement to end all understatements. Aside of the possession stat, we dominated Ballymacash today and should have won. The players know it too.

2024-2025 Season: The final two months, but beware the Ides of March

So we came off The Dub with the bragging rights firmly ensconced for us, and how the Students knew about it. The music was blaring out of the speaker in the “away” dressing room and players were dancing a conga. And it got better as they were getting changed, news had broken that Lisburn Distillery had slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Rathfriland Rangers with Nigel Prentice bagging a decisive double for the home side. It put us an astonishing nine points clear of the second placed Whites with just six games left to play. Even though they had a 3-0 home win over Moyola Park, Newington are twelve adrift so everything is looking good as you can see from the table below:

The equation is quite simple now, three wins will be adequate enough to send us into the Championship for the first time since being relegated in 2018-19.  It would be the first step in the masterplan, as far as I am concerned, completed albeit a season early by my schedule.

March only has three games in it, the Intermediate Cup quarter-final sandwiching two league matches which on paper: we are expected to win. With a fortnight between every game, we should be fully rested for the final month of April.

Off pitch matters now, and it was suggested to me in our weekly management meeting that I should warmly thank Briers and Doyle for some recent high quality performances by said players. Whilst JD was very appreciative of the praise, which is a measure of the man considering his injury absence, Briers was again negative when we said the same to him. Seriously I don't know what's in his head. I am going to have source a quality right back in the summer I believe because Briers doesn't seem to understand the concept of being appreciated. That said, one more player has voiced his appreciation of my managerial reign. Step forward Callum McVeigh…

CMc is the league's Player of the Month, and he said he could not have done it without me! Awww, thanks. Briers could learn from this despite being the more senior player in terms of age and experience, right? I didn't grab the Manager of the Month award for a third successive month however, finishing third behind eventual winner Norman Kempton of Coagh United and runner-up David Murphy of Rathfriland Rangers. Imagine if we had won at Breda Park at the start of February, we could have been looking at a three-peat.

But we're in a good place, make that actually a very good place at the moment. And it's hard to argue against that to be fair.

2024-2025 Season: Dub derby success against the Students

We were now heading into the final weekend of games in February, and once they're complete then there will be just six matches left to play and with March being a bit light on the league matches, every point becomes crucial. Saturday had seen us comfortably see off Ballymoney United in the Intermediate Cup, and were joined in the last eight by fellow Intermediate League sides Armagh City, Newington and Lisburn Distillery. Unfortunately our lower league feeder side Dunmurry Recreation were unable to cause a shock as they slipped to a narrow 2-1 loss to Championship side Dundela. Who would we draw in Friday afternoon's draw for the quarter finals? 

After a light session and a video analysis on our opponents which is normal for us on the day before the game, the team and the whole backroom staff sat in The Dub's canteen waiting for the draw to be made on BBC Radio Ulster. At just after 1:00pm, after the news headlines had been broadcasted, the draw was made. Four Intermediate League sides, four Championship sides: we could either get a divisional rival or someone from the division above: one of which was Ballyclare Comrades who had ended our Irish Cup campaign just a month previous. We were drawn out as the second home side, and the tension was palpable as we awaited the name of our opponent:

“Sphere in the duck” exclaimed Jonathan Doyle as the opponents name was declared. I looked at him quizzically as if to say “What the actual are you on about JD?” but then it became apparent that our top scorer had been cryptic….Sphere (Ball) in a Duck (Mallard) - put them together there you have it: Ballinamallard! Very clever JD, very clever. Anyway the Mallards were as tough as an opponent we could draw, for they were a Premiership side just six seasons ago and I even remember seeing them win at The Oval (home of Glentoran) as well. In fact in a strange coincidence, all four Intermediate League sides were drawn at home with Armagh City taking on Championship promotion candidates HW Welders, Newington entertaining Dundela and Lisburn Distillery hosting the Comrades. So we will have to produce a performance as good as, if not better, than Annagh away to make the last four.

Saturday's game is all about bragging rights as it's The Dub derby against Queens University. After being on the fringes of the promotion race at the start of the year, the Students have dropped off the pace dramatically. They have taken just one point from their last twelve, and that was in a goalless draw with Ballymacash Rangers so much so they have fallen to ninth in the standings before kick-off yet they would just love to put a dent in our aspirations for sure. The bookmakers are also aware it's a derby encounter judging by the odds they are laying. They have us as narrow favourites at 6-5 with the Students at 2-1, whilst you can get 5-2 if you think the two sides will end up with a share of the spoils.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 221 (125 away)

Despite having Joshua Kee back for selection, we opted to name an unchanged side this afternoon which meant that Jonathan Doyle and David Taylor continued to be the preferred striking partnership. But it's not too bad to have Kee ready to come into the fray especially considering he's bagged four times in just five games since arriving on loan at the start of the year. The Students make two changes from their last line-up, one of which is an enforced one. Lewis Patterson replaces youngster James Chapman in central defence whilst 31-goal top scorer Zach Ferson sustained a calf injury in their last game and Mikey Withers comes in for him. Also in their starting eleven is midfielder and former trialist at PSNI, T J Murray who opted to join the Students than accept a permanent switch to us. Today's referee at a very rainy The Dub, where the pitch is very wet indeed, is Neil Robinson of Craigavon. But the game goes ahead as planned.

As the rain incessantly fell, we made an exceptional start with the opening goal after 65 seconds. A nice break saw Callum McVeigh lay the ball into the path of Aaron Porter who outpaced Adam Calvert before continuing his run and then squeezing in a shot off the near post. Midway through the half, we doubled the advantage and what a goal it was. It came from a free kick wide on the left taken by McVeigh who curled it superbly into the net, giving Joel Little no chance whatsoever for the midfielder's tenth goal of the season. It could have been three just moments after the restart when Doyle broke up Queens possession just inside his own half. The ball was quickly switched left to Alexandre Machado who was clean through but Little somehow got an important hand to divert the winger's effort away from goal. Little had been seen of the home side but they went close just after the half hour when Mark McConnell sent a free kick against the bar with Ryan Dalzell beaten yet Machado should have scored just afterwards when he made contact with a deep cross from Craig Briers but sent his header over.

Queens should have got on the scoreboard just before the hour Eamon Scannell sent a header over the top after Leon Bonnes picked him out at the back post. However, we were still threatening a third and after a goalmouth scramble: skipper Johnny Wilson directed his shot wide of the goal. Another McConnell free kick went close but the home side were running out of ideas and looking likely to lose their fourth league match in their last five. There were spaces appearing in their defence and in the final seconds, Queens were again thankful to Little who this time denied Kee after fellow substitute Owen Madine released him on a well executed counter attack. The train keeps-a-rolling.

Mezzala midfielder Callum McVeigh was awarded the Man of the Match beers to take home with him. He created the opener for Aaron Porter with an astute pass that got the winger away from his marker, and then that free kick…WOW! He's been one of the best free transfer signings we have made.

In a game where chances were at a premium, well what do you expect from a derby-type fixture, we took our opportunities when presented whilst having twice the XG in the game. Safe to say, you could therefore go on and admit that those points went the way of the team that deserved them the most.

Six games to go…

2024-2025 Season: A testing week ends in some Cup glory

As much as we enjoyed thrashing Newington, one of the promotion rivals, 4-1 at The Dub: all things weren't exactly rosy in the garden post-game. We had lost winger Sam Morrow just before half time with an unspecified injury at the time. An hour after the final whistle Head Physiotherapist confirmed mine and the Club's worse fears with the prognosis:

“It's a Grade 2 groin strain Mark.” Martin advised.

“Grade 2? Is that a bad one?" I asked.

“”It's not a good one for sure. Will keep Sam out of action around 4-5 weeks."

“Ah baws…”

So we were to be without the former Crusaders youngster for the rest of this month and probably next too. How rotten Lady Luck can be for people? Suppose if we get him )Sam) that crucial final month then it's better than having him ruled out for the rest of the season, yeah? Sunday saw the “Under 18” team entertain Coleraine's Reserves and equalise three times to shake hands on a 3-3 draw thanks to goals from Matthew Hanna, Cathal Farren (who was Man of the Match) and loanee defender Jamie Ingram. The more pleasing matter was that Jonathan Doyle completed 90 minutes without an injury re-occurence. If he can get through the week OK then he'll be in contention for Saturday that's for sure.

I won't be playing a weak side against Ballymoney United; trust me.

So in the lead up to Saturday, two members of my backroom team are doing well. Both Neal Smyth and Joel Madison are going to spend the next four months or so studying for their UEFA Continental C licences which should enhance them as they coach the potential PSNI stars of the future. Back to the Cup match though; the bookies don't think there will be an upset as they believe we will be in the last eight come to the final shrill of the referee's whistle. They have made us 8-11 to progress with our lesser-ranked visitors priced at 7-2 to perform a giant killing. If you think the game will be a draw after 90 minutes then you can get 11-4 for that.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 99 (4 away)

We made a couple of enforced changes for this afternoon's Intermediate Cup Fourth Round encounter. Aaron Porter came in on the right wing for the injured Sam Morrow, who will be out of action for the next 4-5 weeks or so. The other change came up front where Joshua Kee was cup-tied after featuring for HW Welders earlier in the competition, replacing him was top scorer Jonathan Doyle who came through the “Under 18” game and a week of training to confirm he was ready to come back into the starting eleven. Our visitors were without both Darragh Kelly and former PSNI striker Cain Stewart, both cup-tied, but made three changes from their last match - one of those changes was a starting spot for former PSNI winger Raul Zabrauteanu who joined the Toon on a free transfer from Knockbreda three weeks ago. This afternoon's referee is Tony Clarke from Newtownabbey. A place in the quarter-finals awaits the winners today.

After a slow start, we fashioned our first clear cut chance just shy of the quarter hour when Porter's far post cross was headed wide on the stretch by David Taylor. Porter then was next to threaten himself when he burst through the Ballymoney defence only to be denied by a smart save with his legs by Gary Anderson; no not the darts legend. We finally did break through in the 25th minute, another weighted long ball forward from Andrew Ferguson which picked out Taylor's run and the Ballymena loanee clipped over a cross which Doyle converted unmarked from six yards. The man is back!  Seven minutes before half time, we doubled our lead when Doyle turned provider this time for Taylor to brush Lucas Goligher aside and slot it calmly across Anderson and into the far corner.

Would there be a cunning plan for Ballymoney and Lewis Baldrick to get back into this game? Well if there was one, well it was nowhere to be seen as we continued to dominate proceedings and look for more goals. Doyle headed the first chance of the second half straight at Anderson before we were awarded a penalty after 56 minutes when Toon skipper Chandler Douglas was adjudged to have been a wee bit too forceful on Taylor as they challenged for a Doyle cross. Ferguson stepped forward and produced the finish for 3-0, his 11th of the season: all from the spot. Porter had a solo effort deflected wide before we were awarded a second spot kick by Mr Clarke in the 68th minute, Goligher being seen to have fouled Taylor as they went for Porter's cross. Yet this time Ferguson weakly shot straight at Anderson for his first miss in 12 attempts, it was more back pass than shot to be fair. 

A rare flurry of chances of sorts then came Ballymoney's way as they sought consolation. The nearest they came was twenty minutes was when their best player, Andy Stinson, saw Ryan Dalzell off his line and tried to dip one over the keeper but it went inches over rather than inches under. Yet seconds after that, we had goal number four and it was gift wrapped indeed. It came about when the Toon looked to clear their lines after a home move had broken down; former home winger Zabrauteanu aimed a back pass to Paul Williams but instead sent it straight to the feet of Doyle who took it forward a few paces before blasting an unstoppable effort from the edge of the D past a bemused Anderson. It could have ended 5-0 nine minutes from the end when Craig Briers played in Taylor who struck a powerful effort of his own across Anderson but saw it crash off the post and to be safety. Job done though. Banana skin? What banana skin?

So many excellent performances, including a return in goals for JD, but the loan signing from Ballymena got the nod for the Man of the Match beers today. The fans want him to be signed permanently, let's see if we can engineer something eh?

Just look at these match statistics, outrageous indeed as we absolutely destroyed our opponents. A new record for xG as well….this season has been one for the ages for sure!

2024-2025 Season: C'est four-midablé as we go nine points clear

They say that revenge is a dish that is best served cold, and that's what was on The Dub's menu board on Saturday as we played one of the biggest home games of the season ahead. The team have trained as well as we can expect them to be, but we know that Newington will be a tough nut to crack open even if we are on home ground. Get a positive result against them and we could end their faint hopes of winning the title.

Now that would be a nice feeling for sure; right?

Recent form has us in excellent form whilst our visitors have dropped off a little bit; especially with that home loss against Armagh City particularly a sore one for them to take. If we can win today then we will be unbeaten in nine league matches and that's some form for sure. However, if we don't then it potentially opens the proverbial door for second-placed Lisburn Distillery to take advantage with their game in hand next Saturday whilst we're in Intermediate Cup Fourth Round action. The bookies think though it's going to go with form and that we will be nine points ahead come 4:15pm or thereabouts on Saturday afternoon. We're even money favourites to take the points whilst Newington's recent form has seen them pushed to 12-5 for an away win. It is 13-5 if you reckon the teams will end shaking hands at the end on a draw.

The Dub, Belfast

Attendance: 394 (206 away)

We have opted to make a couple of changes from the side drew at Breda Park seven days ago. For his superb impact there from the bench, striker Joshua Kee is given the start up front alongside fellow loan signing David Taylor. Kee replaces top scorer Jonathan Doyle who is still trying to get back into the swing of things after a lengthy injury absence, Doyle is going to get ninety minutes in the tank tomorrow afternoon for the “Under 18” side. The other change is in central defender where Ben Mitchell is restored there in place of Ben Gordon after being taken out of the firing line for the last couple of games. Newington make just one change and that comes at left back where Aodhfionn Casey replaces Jack Graham (no, not our Jack) who drops to the bench where former PSNI trialist Kyle Calderwood also features. This afternoon's referee is Ross Dunlop of Carrickfergus.

We made a positive beginning and went close to opening the scoring after 11 minutes when a curling effort from the edge of the area by Callum McVeigh smacked against the post with on-loan Larne keeper Rian Brown beaten. Newington themselves tested the woodwork five minutes later when Matt Gibbons sent a long range free kick against the crossbar, it was the Ton's first effort on goal. Gibbons then turned villain for his side in the 21st minute when he tripped Johnny Wilson inches inside the area. Penalty kick. Andrew Ferguson again stepped up and sent Brown the wrong way for his 10th goal of the season of which all have come from the spot, a phenomenal sense of consistency. That rocked Newington and they conceded twice more in the next 11 minutes to fall 3-0 behind. First in 26 minutes, Kee stooped to head in a McVeigh cross after Sam Morrow had beautifully picked the central midfielder's run and in the 32nd McVeigh was the provider again with a well flighted corner to the far post where Mitchell connected with a text book header.

Knowing they needed something quick, Newington almost pulled one back when Ben McCaul headed a Tiarnan McNicholl corner inches over but McCaul was at fault in the 41st minute when he dallied on his clearance from a Taylor attempted through ball; allowing Alexandre Machado a clean run through on goal to blast in our fourth across the exposed Brown. We had to make a change in first half added-on when Morrow was carried off following a rather dubious challenge from Casey which went unpunished. 'Ton almost pulled one back in the 51st minute when McCaul picked out the dangerous Peter McKiernan who looked odds-on to score but Dalzell saved with his legs. Substitute Aaron Porter almost made it five with a long range effort that required a full length save from Brown as we sensed more goals in the offing.

Yet the final twenty was all Newington. Gibbons had another free kick crash against the bar with nineteen minutes left on the clock before the clean sheet was erased a minute later when McKiernan's inch perfect cross was converted by strike partner Darren Stuart from close in for 4-1. Gibbons curled another free kick over the bar as the away side looked to get back within two. They should have been with three minutes to go when Stuart sent a wild shot well wide of goal when he only had Dalzell to beat and the majority of the goal to aim at. So 4-1 it ended, we are now nine clear with just seven games to play out.

Even though he was not on the scoresheet himself, Callum McVeigh was perennially a thorn in Newington's side. He fully deserved to take home the Man of the Match beers home with him.

As you can see, we served up an absolute classic…taking our chances when presented! This is part of the reason why we are now nine points clear at the top.

Why are you changing the club but using the same beginning to the same story?

Is there something you don't want to tell us, I'm intrigued.

2024-2025 Season: A crunch game in the offing

Whilst we didn't take maximum points from our trip to Breda Park, the main thing was that we were remaining unbeaten as the season hurtles towards its dramatic conclusion. That's always a positive. However, taking advantage of our draw and Newington's slip on the Friday are our old foes Lisburn Distillery who have leapfrogged the Larne-based side and reduced the gap between us and second place to six points. There are just eight games left to play, two of which are this month. Another thing in our favour is the goal difference factor, ours is currently reading at +23 compared to that of +10 for Lisburn Distillery and +13 for third placed Newington. Some might say that is like a an extra point's advantage.

Meanwhile in the bottom rungs, which if you recall was where the know-it-all pundits thought we'd be ensconced this season…AGAIN….you have to feel for newly promoted Donegal Celtic. They lie in 14th out of 14th place, two points behind 13th placed (where we were predicted to finish) Limavady United. The irony? These two sides play each other in Limavady on the final day of the season. Could be a final day shootout for survival that, eh?

Sunday was initially spent watching the “Under 18” side take on the Ards second string at The Dub. There were no goals but certainly plenty of chances. For us, Sean Hill and Tim Millar-Wilson linked up well on the right hand side and were our better performers. However, the stand out player was visiting goalkeeper Kenzie Dowie who was an absolute wall for them. Looking concerned on the sidelines was skipper Johnny Wilson, who always shows his face for moral support in these games, and when I asked him why the long face I got the response: “Was expecting more quality in central defence in the window just closed boss.” and wouldn't say much more. I'm just hoping it doesn't become a big problem.

That said I do plan to get some players from Premiership sides in next season with central defence one of my priorities. That should please the skipper right?

Saturday's match is another huge one, but the good thing is that we were back on home turf for it. We entertain the afore-mentioned Newington and that late defeat in the Steel and Sons Cup semi-final against them still rankles with me. I will be hoping that we can put the record straight.  With Lisburn Distillery  in Irish Cup action against Dollingstown, a home win would extend the lead at the top to nine points and with the exception of Queens and Coagh United; all our remaining games are against sides in the bottom half of the table. But as you know, nothing is ever a given in football.

Let's make a statement, right?

2024-2025 Season: Kee at the double in a six goal thriller

So we moved into February having kept the squad intact despite rumoured interest from here, there and everywhere. Whether the mumblings over quality defensive reinforcements has subsided is not known at present, but hopefully some folk will realise what I am up against when it comes to try and attract players with limited funding from old Ebenezer.

The end of January saw Newington play a Friday night game, and I toddled off to Larne to see it unfold. Like you do.

Well I didn't see that result coming. Not at all. After a goalless first half, Newington took the lead against their plucky visitors from Armagh City, and like most I thought that this would see the floodgates open as everyone expects a home win. Yet nobody told Armagh that this was the case as they equalised with quarter of an hour left and then scored a winner win the third minute time added-on at the end.  A massive result that went down well with us for sure.  But we had take advantage further to press our credentials home for the “P” word, but it wouldn't be easy against a Knockbreda side who are pretty decent on their own patch. The bookies think that our unbeaten record is about to end here, we've not lost in seven league matches at the time of kick-off, and have them as 8-11 favourites to do just that. We're 7-2 to leave Breda Park with all three points, and it's 11-4 if you think the teams will shake hands on a draw.

Breda Park, Belfast

Attendance: 193 (123 away)

So after the euphoric win at Annagh against the odds, we made just a single change into the starting eleven and that came up front. Coming back into the starting eleven for the first time in six weeks is top scorer Jonathan Doyle. He replaces Cathal Farren who a decent job last week but he's no Doyle though. On-loan striker Joshua Kee is on the bench to offer options up front after being cup-tied for the Annagh Intermediate Cup triumph. The home side also make a single change with Ashton McDermott replacing Adam Grant in their midfield engine room. Former PSNI striker Jake Moore is on their substitutes bench, and you can imagine that he will be chomping at the proverbial bit to try and bag one against his former team-mates. This afternoon's referee is Louise Thompson from Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh, and by Callum McVeigh's opinion: she's a bit of alright. Aye whatever Callum…

With that fine rain falling, you know that type that isn't exactly a downpour but blooming soaks you all the same, we kicked off with a large number of away fans making an absolute racket and they were dancing after just three minutes when we took the lead. After picking up a pass from skipper Johnny Wilson, McVeigh stepped inside McDermott before weighting a pass into David Taylor who got the step on Shea McAuley and then strode on to lift the ball over the advancing Michael Argyrides for 0-1. We continued to press home the good start and nearly doubled it when Alexandre Machado burned away Knockbreda skipper Harwood before firing just over and then Doyle was denied by Argyrides' point blank save as he manufactured a half chance from McVeigh's low cross. Knockbreda then started to come into the game and twice connected with the woodwork in the space of two minutes; Nathan Clarke with an effort from the edge of the area that pinged off the bar and then Sam Hughes with a low effort that smacked against the post. But the pressure was mounting…

That pressure meant a goal was going to come and it came after 28 minutes when Hughes found Cormac Lawlor 20 yards out and he creamed an unstoppable effort out of the reach of Ryan Dalzell. You don't save those. In the early stages of the second half, a great save with his legs by Dalzell prevented Tamer Atrach from giving Knockbreda the lead but it wouldn't have counted as the striker was offside. McVeigh sent a long range effort just wide before Knockbreda did actually go in front after 51 minutes when Hughes released McDermott who found Tamer in a pocket of space and he made no mistake. Clarke struck the bar again before the home side went 3-1 in the 64th minute when a long goal kick from Argyrides was allowed to bounce into the path of Tamer who strode on to lash home an effort for his second of the game and beat Dalzell at his near post.

We needed a response, and that response was to take a quiet Doyle out of the attack and put on loanee striker Kee. Within four minutes of his introduction, Kee had an impact with our second goal. He started the move with a nice pass out to fellow striker Taylor who bided his time before sending in a left wing cross which was deflected into the path of Kee who nipped in front of McAuley for a real poachers finish. Back came the home side, Hughes with a goalbound effort that required a tip over by Dalzell. Then another pivotal moment with eight minutes to go; McAuley's weak pass was intercepted by Kee whose shot was blocked and rebounded to Sam Morrow whose shot was about to cross the line before Owen Madine made sure from an offside position literally on the goal line. Offside was rightly called, leaving us thinking why did Owen have touch it?  We went again and with just six to go, equalised when Morrow's low cross was parried out by Argyrides straight to Kee who accepted the opportunity gleefully for 3-3. Both sides then nearly had a winner in the final stages, Madine striking the bar for us and then McDermott driving just over from just inside the area. What a game!

Who else could it be for the Man of the Match beers but our loan striker Joshua Kee, what an impact he made in the 26 minutes he was on the pitch! He now has three goals in just four appearances, an astute recruit so far eh?

A very entertaining game as you can see from the match statistics, both teams putting a real spectacle of a fixture. Yes we didn't have much possession again but who actually cares about that when you're as entertaining as what we are.