Slane smell blood as they seek ‘biggest win’ in derby

They’re hoping to be the ‘noisy neighbours’ as they arrive to take on Banbridge Town in the Bob Radcliffe Cup second round (kick-off 2.30pm) and it’s fair to say they’re in bullish mood.

The Intermediate B side have never beaten Championship opposition in a competitive game and that’s the carrot that manager David Johnstone will be dangling in front of his players before the big kick-off.

“If we were to win, it would be our biggest win as a club,” he told the ‘LEADER.’

“Winning the Alan Wilson Cup last season was great but to beat a Championship club in a competitive match would be massive.

“We’re probably the noisy neighbours, coming in with a good support. All the pressure is on them.
“It’s our best chance to beat them because confidence is a big thing in football and we’re on a good run and they’re not.”

Slane are certainly the team carrying momentum into the tie as they have netted 28 goals in their six matches so far this season, winning four. Johnstone reckons his forward line have what it takes to cause problems for their Championship opponents.

He said: “I’m confident we will score and if we do that first, the pressure will grow on them.”

Pressure is one thing that is already thick over Crystal Park. Town’s only win so far this season came over Armagh City in the JBE League Cup.

They’re going into this one off the back of a heavy 6-0 home defeat at the hands of Sport and Leisure Swifts.

“We have a few points to prove and I’ll be looking for a big reaction,” said Town boss Ryan Watson.

“We need to get our season going and get a win. This is a break from the league but after last week, we need to up things and start to get some momentum.

“It will be a tough game, they’ll come with a gameplan and they have some good players.

“We’ll get things back on track in training this week and get the players lifted and get the confidence up.”