COMRADES DELIGHTED WITH GLENS CUP DRAW

The visit of the reigning Premier League champions should ensure a full house at Dixon Park on 13th February, but manager Gordon Chambers warned there is important work to be done in the interim.

"The immediate focus will be on Saturday's rearranged Intermediate Cup tie against Bangor at Clandeboye Park," he said. "They stole the league points down there a couple of months ago, so we owe them one.

"The lads will surely be up for this one, for a win will guarantee us a home draw in the next round against either Donegal Celtic or Lurgan Celtic a week later. After that we have a home Championship fixture against Glebe Rangers on 6th February, before tackling Glentoran.

"That is a busy schedule, but we have a stronger squad this season, and for the immediate trip to Bangor we will have Simon McGowan, Stuart Galbraith and Andy Simms added to the squad.

"I was pleased with the performance against Islandmagee, in what was a potential banana skin clash for us. Amateur League clubs have accounted for a few Championship scalps this season, with two of them contesting the final of the Steel & Sons Cup, so at training sessions I was making sure that there would be no complacency.

"There was a good crowd of visiting vocal supporters for the underdogs in this local derby, and there was plenty of good-natured banter on the terraces during an entertaining match," he added.