Donald expects Island response after Derriaghy debacle

Stephen Donald’s side have had the guts of two weeks to mull over their heaviest defeat of the season and they couldn’t have a tougher fixture to negotiate tomorrow afternoon.

The Wilbourne Park outfit travel to league leaders Ards Rangers who have a 100 per cent record in the Premier Division with eight wins from eight. They are six points clear of second-placed Ardglass with two games in hand and their stubborn defence has conceded just seven in the league.

Island had been on a six-game unbeaten run prior to the Derriaghy debacle, but Donald insists their Hallowe’en howler at Seycon Park was just a blip.

“The Derriaghy match was a freak result,” he told the Times. “We had three players missing and they are the spine of our team. The players all know they let themselves down and they’ll have to perform against Ards Rangers.”

And while Donald recognises the quality the North Down men possess, he added: “I’m expecting my players to respond and I’m expecting them to perform.”