Tough challenge ahead for Barn United

Barn crashed out of the Clarence Cup on Saturday, losing 2-1 at home to 1B side East Belfast in what was their seventh defeat in their last eight outings.

However, United’s assistant-manager, Robert McKee, explained: “We changed things round a bit, giving players who had been on the bench some game time and we played really well up against a good side. But we’re still struggling to put the ball in the net. East’s first goal, right on half time, came from a corner none of their players even claimed for. But we didn’t concentrate and they scored.

“Just after Mark Tweedie equalised, they took the lead again but at 2-1 we were the better side, only we had to play the last 25 minutes or so with 10 men after Graham Alexander went off injured, just after we made our three substitutions. That’s just the way our luck is going at the moment.

“Our main focus is on the league and I still think we have more than enough to be safe this year.”

Top-of-the-table Downpatrick will be a difficult game, especially with competition for Cup final places up for grabs after they saw off Premier Division side Crumlin Star in the recent Border Cup semi-final at Seaview.

“We got them in the wrong week but we’re confident, we’re playing well enough, and we’ll give it a go,” added McKee.