Manager’s programme notes
Posted : 11th December 2021
Today we will face a tough challenge from a Warrenpoint Town team that will come here badly in need of much needed points, to help move them away from the foot of the league table.
Barry Gray’s team defeated us in Warrenpoint last year, so we know that on their day they can beat any team in this league. There is no way that we can be underestimating their challenge today, as they are more than capable of recording a positive result, if we are not fully focused on the important and challenging task that we will face in this game.
We come into today’s game on the back of some really pleasing and encouraging performances and results. I was delighted with the patience and resilience we showed to overcome the challenge of Carrick, with two late goals in our most recent home game.
Since then, we’ve recorded two impressive wins at two notoriously difficult venues. Coleraine hadn’t lost at home this season, so to go there and win was particularly pleasing. It was a tough game but our players showed real character and mental toughness to come away with a hard fought 2-1 win.
In midweek, we travelled to Solitude where Cliftonville had enjoyed 12 wins out of 12 in all competitions this season. We finished the game strongly and deservedly scored an injury time equaliser to take the game to a penalty shoot-out. The players held their nerve, with David Walsh emerging as the hero, with two fine saves and so we progressed to the final of the County Antrim Shield. In the New Year we will look forward to the final against Larne but we have many important fixtures to consider, before that game comes around.
Chris Shields picked up a yellow card in the midweek Solitude game and so he will miss out today, due to suspension.
On the injury front, we have a number of concerns ahead of today’s game. The players likely to miss out today include Trai Hume, Cameron Palmer, Jack Ruddy, Jamie Mulgrew and long-term absentee Conor Pepper. We may have Niall Quinn, Kirk Millar and Michael Newberry available to re-join the squad today but we will have to assess Sam Roscoe who had to come off injured at Solitude in midweek.
It’s been pleasing to welcome Jordan Stewart and Kyle McClean back to action in recent games. Kyle has done remarkably well since his return from long term injury and I was delighted that he grabbed the dramatic injury time equaliser for us at Solitude in midweek.
It was also good to see Jake Corbett on the team sheet for the Swifts in their game against Coleraine reserves last week. Like Kyle, he’s had a long layoff due to a cruciate injury, so it’s great to see him commence his comeback.
Recent injuries have provided opportunities for several of our promising young players to be around the first team environment and they can only benefit from the valuable experience.
Today is the first in a series of huge games for us over the coming weeks and we will need the wholehearted and positive backing of all our supporters today and in all our upcoming games.