Barn encounter 'just another game', says Smith

Newington manager Sammy Smith has certainly surprised a few sceptics, especially after Rangers lost most of last season's squad during the summer – but Sammy's side are still unbeaten against Amateur League opposition, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Championship 1 side Glebe Rangers back on match day one.

"I'm looking forward to it, though it's just another game," said Sammy. "I'd rather get a few league matches played; we've only played three in the league, fewer than anyone else in the division, but in saying that, it's good to be involved in the cups. At least it means your season is going to last longer.

"When you go to Barn, you know what you're going to get up there. They had a super win on Saturday, and we'll have to keep an eye on their front two of Kane and Sharples."

Barn themselves will need to keep a watchful eye over Newington's own pacey frontman, David Steele. United will be missing a few regulars, but they have won their last four games on home turf.

It should therefore be interesting, and could well depend on which side's strikeforce is kept at bay.

Nortel are also in Border Cup action, but face a tough trip to last year's Steel and Sons Cup winners Kilmore Rec. The two sides met last season when Kilmore took the 1A title that most people thought would be heading back to the Factory Grounds. In the two meetings last term, Nortel were 2-1 winners at Crossgar, drawing 1-1 at home in the return fixture.

As manager Jamesie Kirk recalled: "We had a couple of good matches with them last season, but I think they've strengthened since then. It wouldn't surprise me either if they went on to win the Premier Division, they're certainly good enough."

Nortel will be without defender Andrew Doyle, who will be serving a one-match ban, following Saturday's dismissal at Dromara Village, but assistant manager Stuart McClean could be back in contention while Gary Bell returns from holidays.

Wellington Rec, meanwhile, were also meant to be on Border Cup duty, but have managed to rearrange their home tie against 1C newcomers Iveagh United for the following Saturday. Instead, Rec are in league action, away to Comber Rec, where they could certainly do with coming home with something, currently languishing just one off the bottom with only one point out of a possible nine.

The Millbrookers will be without some regulars although this should open the door for Steven Mills, while Andy Bell, absent last Saturday should also be back in action.

Rec boosted their backroom staff last week by snapping up ex-Newington Rangers manager Stuart Pike from Moyola Park. Another absentee, though, will be Saturday's two-goal Paul Maguire, who will be under suspension.

At the Factory Grounds, there's an interesting 1A encounter between UUJ and Crumlin United. UUJ enjoyed a resounding 4-1 victory at Dundonald on Saturday, producing their best football of the season, although, as manager Fra Miskelly admitted: "Mark Dundas is unlikely to be involved and he will be badly missed, giving us so many options down that left side."

Also in 1A, Larne Tech will be hoping to get back to winning ways, with a trip to Ballywooley Park to meet newly-promoted Bryansburn Rangers. Nortel, remember, only drew there earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Rathfern Rangers entertain bottom-of-the-table Saintfield United at the Diamond.

Match of the week in 1C is on Friday night when second-placed Kilroot Rec travel to Solitude to meet current leaders Crumlin Star. Rec, however, will be without Paul Gibb, Darren Moran and Jamie Sterling, all suspended, while Paul Braden and skipper David Gibb are unavailable.