Town have no fear of PSNI with safety on the line

Banbridge Town are capable of taking a huge step towards confirming their survival this weekend.
Town are waiting on the fitness of Stuart Thompson ahead of Saturdays game. INBL1605-248PBTown are waiting on the fitness of Stuart Thompson ahead of Saturdays game. INBL1605-248PB
Town are waiting on the fitness of Stuart Thompson ahead of Saturdays game. INBL1605-248PB

The club are set to welcome league leaders PSNI to Crystal Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Town are coming off the back of a run that has seen them win only one of their last seven league outings.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 1-0 defeat at Glebe on Saturday proved particularly disappointing but boss Ryan Watson knows they are capable of springing an upset this weekend.

“We seem to raise our game to another level when we come up against top teams,” he said.

“A result would take a lot of pressure off. We have to get something out of what is a big game for both clubs.”

Town did take something off PSNI the last time the teams met. Ryan Watson’s men had been 3-1 ahead before letting the hosts back in to earn a 3-3 draw.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We should have beaten them in that game so that will be in our minds,” said Watson “They’re obviously a good side and are up there for a reason but it has the makings of a good game.”

PSNI will be looking to take another step to title glory while a win for Town could see them mathematically safe from relegation.

Currently, Town have 32, five points off the bottom five, although Newington and Dollingstown both have a game in hand on 27 points.

“It’s very tight, you still can’t really call it,” said Watson.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s nice to have the points on the board. I’d rather be where we are than some of the teams below us.

“I still think we need some more points on the board to make sure though. We don’t want to be relying on other things.

“The main thing is it’s in our own hands. We can look after ourselves and it’s important that we try and do that.”

Town look set to go into the match without in-form midfield duo Matthew McCartan and Chris McGrath.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McCartan’s season looks to be over after picking up concussion at Glebe while McGrath is unlikely to return in time for Saturday with a shoulder injury.

Stuart Thompson is also a doubt with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Watson was disappointed with his side’s defeat at Glebe last weekend.

“We know it’s a tough place to go but, looking at the last three games, it was a golden opporunity for us,” he reflected.

“We started poorly and we lost our way, which was very disappointing with the experience we have in the team.

“We just couldn’t get anything over the line and it was frustrating not to even get a point out of it.”

Related topics: