Saturday showdown at Dixon

It's landlords v tenants on Saturday as Dixon Park hosts the Championship 1 clash between Ards and Ballyclare Comrades.

Ards have the 'home' advantage on paper, though will find themselves in the away changing rooms for match preparations and will also find a Ballyclare team slowly creeping their way towards the top half of the table.

Last weekend the Comrades put Bangor to the sword for the second time this year, having earlier eliminated Colin McCurdy's side from the Intermediate Cup. Home form in the Championship has been good also, having lost only twice at Dixon Park this season and with a number of new players filtering through the ranks in recent times, boss Gordon Chambers will approach this game with optimism.

Ards will be buoyed themselves though after last Saturday's three-all draw at Donegal Celtic. The thrilling game showed again that Ards are a match for most teams in the division and more displays like this as the games come thick and fast could see Ards start to climb the table.

Ards will be without winger Craig McMillen on Saturday as he serves a one game suspension, while Ballyclare have Stuart Galbraith serving out a ban also. Expect to see the same line-up from Ards take the field, provided there have been no injuries reported from the Celtic game.

Top goal-scorer Darren Fitzgerald came through all of the ninety minutes last weekend and he could be a key player, having scored in each of the last three meetings against Ballyclare.

The match has a 3pm kick-off and fans are asked to note that Ards season tickets are valid but Ballyclare ones are not. A supporters' bus will leave Newtownards at 1.50pm.

- THIS SATURDAY'S FIXTURES (3.00pm)

Ards v Ballyclare Comrades
Armagh City v Coagh United
Ballymoney United v Donegal Celtic
Banbridge Town v Carrick Rangers
Bangor v Glebe Rangers
Larne v Ballinamallard United
Limavady United v Loughgall

12th March 2010

ardsfc.co.uk