Battling Glebe bag the points

It was a very different team that showed up on Saturday with a lack lustre start which saw Glebe make hard work of the first half and despite several opportunities to score they were unable to get the ball in the net. The Ballymoney men were dealt a blow when a Wakehurst free kick took a deflection off a home team player into the net with Chris Fullerton given no chance to stop it.

It was definitely a game of two halfs when the game resumed after the interval. Glebe played with more urgency as they chased the equaliser which they got through the impressive Ian Christie.

As manager Wilmont brought on some subs, they immediately impacted on the game and the home side began to look dangerous.

Ricky Dunlop once again proved his worth as he scored the equaliser to give Glebe the win and three more very valuable points.

Speaking after the game Wilmont commented: “We never make it easy for ourselves. We came out such a different team from the previous week.

“Wakehurst got their noses in front and we couldn’t deal with the way they played. They tried to hang on to the 1-0 and every time they got it they hoofed it 60 yards in the air and it just by-passed us completely.

“We did create chances even though we were really poor but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net.

“Big Zach Barr was getting himself so frustrated because he didn’t score. He even said at half time that he should have been sitting them with a hat-trick at least but that will come.

“The goal we gave away was a soft goal. It was a terrible free kick to give away and then it deflected off one of our players into the net. Big Chris was saving it comfortable and then the deflection took it away from him completly. They dug in, they didn’t try to play any, they just tried to kick and win the secon ball and we had about 70% possession of the ball.

“At half time we had a serious talk. I just said look boys you’ve been getting a lot of praise lately which was richly deserved but I l;et them know how disappointed I was in them and the way they were playing.

“ I really let them have it in a way they haven’t had it for a long time. However, in fairness they were very disappointed in themselves.

“I think too many of them went out with the attitude that it was going to be easy and we had talked about it during the week so I was disappointed that they started the game like that.

“I did ask for a response from them and that’s what they gave me. It was such a different half to the first and we probably should have scored more goals.

“I took Zach off because he was carrying a knock, he pulled up in training on Thursday night with his hamstring and the substitutes did their job when they came on for us. In fact I think they changed the game.

“Mo McDowell was really sharp when he came on and he has now given me something to think about for Saturday. We didn’t have Willie Beckett because he was suspended but he will be back for the Portstewart game. He’s a driving force within the team.

“Willie and Ian Christie have both been playing really well and I thought Ian Christie was the best players by a mile on Saturday. He carried us in the first half, driving us on.

“We can’t afford to go out with the attitude we did on Saturday. I even noticed a few things in the warm up and could see they weren’t fully focused.

“If you take the wrong attitude you will get punished is this league, you can’t afford to do that and maybe Saturday was the wake-up call they needed.

“If we did that with a better team we would have been punished and if we do that against portstewart on Saturday they will punish us.

“There will be games were we will play five or six times better and get nothing from the game but a win is a win and you take it no matter way it comes.”

Glebe Rangers have already played Gary Taylor’s Portstewart at Riada, losing to a team who were on the bottom of the table. However, with three games in hand, Glebe can’t afford to be complacent when they go to Seahaven on Saturday.

“I have always said that Portsewart’s position is no indication on them as a team.They are a very good side with some good players and a very good manager.

“We need to go out and put them away and take the three points and we need to do the same the week after,

“This is a crazy month for us. We have Portstewart and Coagh in the next two weeks and it’s vital we keep picking up three points.

“We scraped through against Wakehurst which is the main thing.

“We will go to Portstewart with the aim of not losing so if you start with point and if you finish with a point then Portstewart haven’t gained on you in the table.

“After that we will push on for the win and all three points. If we come away with six points from the next two games then that gives us some chance of staying up in this league.

“The main thing is I got a response from the lads on Saturday. We will chat about it at training and get ourselves set up again for the weekend. We have no injuries apart from that little niggle of Zach’s but I’ll rest him on Tuesday night and the extra couple of day’s rest could make all the difference.

“Our future is in our hands, all we have to do is to keep working hard on the pitch and keep picking up points, preferably three points each time.

“ If they keep showing the dedication they have, apart from the first half on Saturday, then I believe they will be rewarded and will stay up. They have given themselves a massive chance with the way they have been playing.

“They are unbeaten away from home this season in the league which is a great record to have but we need to be on the top of our game for Saturday.

“I rate Portstewart very highly and they just aren’t getting the luck at the moment. I know what it’s like, when you’re down there its hard to turn things around.”

Glebe Rangers play Portstewart at Seahaven on Saturday 20th February - Kick-off 3pm

LOTTO

Glebe Rangers F.C weekly lotto, winning numbers 2, 9, 13. Congratulations to Gary Mckessick, Glebeside, who has won £300 jackpot. Next week’s jackpot £75.

NIFL CHAMPIONSHIP 2 FIXTURES

Saturday February 20 2016

Banbridge Town v Newington YC

Coagh United v Moyola Park

Dundela v Queens University

Portstewart v Glebe Rangers

PSNI v Limavady United

S&L Swifts v Dollingstown

Wakehurst v Tobermore United

Friday February 26 2016

Glebe Rangers v Coagh United at 7:45 pm

CHAMPIONSHIP 2

LEAGUE TABLE

Limavady Utd 16 35 PSNI 15 32 Tobermore 15 26

Banbridge 17 26

Queen’s 15 24

Dollingstown 16 22

Moyola 16 21

Sport & Leisure 11 20

Glebe Rangers 15 20 Dundela 16 19

Newington 15 17

Coagh 14 12

Portstewart 12 11