Amateur League preview: Barn United

With the new Amateur League season set to get under way this weekend, www.carrickfergustimes.co.uk takes a look at each of our local teams ahead of Saturday’s big kick-off. Today we focus on Barn United.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Aug 2012, 00:02 BST

It should be a deeper first-team pool for Barn, having gobbled up nine players from neighbours Kilroot Rec, with at least one more possible addition in Paul Matthews to come. They also have more options in the centre of the defence with the return of ‘old boys’ Neil McKnight and Paul Waite.

However, Barn have lost their leading goalscorer Christopher Shimmon, who is getting a deserved crack at Championship 1 with Bangor, while influential midfielder Noel Anderson has yet to re-sign. Two of the new recruits from Kilroot, Paul Garvey and Jamie Stirling will miss the opening weeks through injury.

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Also gone are last season’s full-backs, Marc Kelly to Greenisland and Chris Monteith to Ballyclare Comrades, with Gary McKee and Aaron Anderson likely to step in.

Striker Andy Kane has missed most of pre-season due to work commitments but should be ready to resume his partnership with Nicky Sharples when the season kicks off. In his absence, young Moroccan starlet Omar has been showing up well.

Don’t rule out some further signings, with manager Jim Pherson hot on the trail of a certain midfield ball-winner; one who already has an ex-Barn and Kilroot connection.

Opening fixtures: Saturday, Abbey Villa (h); Tuesday, Drumaness Mills (a).

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Players in: Paul Waite, D, Newington Rangers; Neil McKnight, D, Islandmagee; Wayne Patterson, Striker/Midfielder, Newington Rangers; Paul Gibb, M/S, Islandmagee - from Kilroot Rec; Aaron Anderson, D; Paul Thompson, M; Dean Haggan, G; Paul Garvey, S; Rob Armstrong, M; David Gibb, Midfielder; Jim Thompson, M; Jamie Stirling, D; Matt Bingham, M.

Players out: Christopher Shimmon, S, Bangor; Chris Monteith, D, Ballyclare Comrades; Marc Kelly, D, Greenisland; Chris Harris, D/M, Islandmagee; Noel Anderson, M;

Key player: Nicky Sharples

Last season: 5th in 1A, 38 points (26 games)

Prospects: Fifth in Division 1A last season, third the year before, Barn will be looking for another promotion push. Certainly there is more experience in the squad and Barn won’t have to rely as much on their crop of promising youngsters. The loss of Shimmon will be keenly felt, even if he was hampered by injury towards the end of last season. Barn also haven’t given up hope either on Noel Anderson returning – and should again be in the leading pack, though a lot will rest on the return from strikers Sharples and Kane.