Friday 7th April
Kick off 7.45pm
Tomorrow we start our post-split campaign and continue our quest for European football with a trip to Inver Park to face league leaders Larne on their own patch, our first visit since the opening night of the season.
Having embarked upon a twelve game unbeaten league run since losing 2-1 at Cliftonville at the start of January, Larne find themselves top of the table by five points as we head into the post-split fixtures and they seek to become Irish League Champions for the first time. Larne have suffered only one home league defeat this season (2-0 to Coleraine in late November) and recorded eleven wins from sixteen at Inver Park this term.
In the three meetings between the sides this season, honours are so far even with one win apiece at the Oval and a 0-0 at Inver Park back in August. When the Glens swept Tiernan Lynch’s team aside 4-O at the end of October - a night on which our attack of Jay Donnelly, Danny Purkis and Conor McMenamin were unstoppable - it looked as if the Glens were the side likely to challenge for the title. Less than three months later, however, Lee Bonis’ second half goal secured a 1-0 win for Larne and inflicted a fifth straight defeat on Glentoran.
Having suffered a surprise setback in losing last week’s Irish Cup Semi Final against Ballymena United, Lynch may be tempted to freshen up his side for this game. Former Glens forward Paul O’Neill, Scottish midfielder Joe Thomson and experienced Central Defender Albert Watson will all be hoping to be promoted from the bench after missing out on a starting role at Seaview against the Braidmen.
Rodney McAree: “In the Portadown game last weekend, I thought we were excellent in the first half, started the game very positively, looked a threat going forward and got a few goals to go along with the performance. It was great to see Jay get a hat-trick and Danny weigh in with two as well. It didn't help the game when Portadown went down to ten men as they understandably sat in. We had the game won at that stage but overall I was delighted with the three points and the performance.
The first game in the split and away to the league leaders tomorrow night will be tough but we look forward to going to Inver Park in what should be a great game. We have to go to Larne and play with the same energy as we have of late, be positive when we have the ball and try to cause Larne as many problems as well as being aware of the threat they will pose to us. As a player this is a game that you should be really looking forward to playing in so we'll go and give it our very best.
The squad is in good shape, apart from concerns that remain over Aidan. We will make a late call on him.
I know we’ve sold out our allocation and will have a great crowd behind us at Inver. We look forward to hearing the Glens fans loud and proud.”
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SUPPORTERS
Both home and away supporters are advised that there will be limited parking availability around Inver Park on Friday night, due to Easter church services being held at St. Cedmas and First Larne on the Inver Road. As a result, the First Larne car park which normally facilitates home supporters will not be open. Supporters can park their cars at Riverdale Car Park, Murrayfield Shopping Centre or Laharna Retail Park, all of which are just a short walk to the stadium.
Both clubs ask supporters to be aware and respectful of the services when arriving at the stadium - please be considerate of noise outside of Inver Park, arrive early where possible and once again be mindful of traffic congestion on the Inver Road.
