The bid to retain the Samuel Gelstons Irish Whiskey Irish Cup continues and we travel to Clandeboye Park, home of Bangor FC, to play in the 6th Round on Friday night (7.45pm) Crusaders will be professional and will not underestimate the Intermediate side by any means while Bangor of course will have an eye on the “big scalp” win and will give it everything.
Stephen Baxter will have a good look at the squad after three very hard matches in the Premiership and assess who may need a rest so we could see a few changes for this game while keeping a strong line up. Philip Lowry returns after suspension on Monday night while Ben Kennedy played most of a reserve game on Monday night at Seaview but this game may come just slightly early for him or at most a seat on the bench may be possible. Stephen Baxter will have had Bangor watched and a game plan set out but he will also tell the team not to be taking the game in any way lightly so we avoid being beaten. Memories of last May will definitely push the side on to victory.
Bangor manager Lee Feeney will give this game a real go and with form good they will really be a force. Four wins in the last five games in the Intermediate League has lifted them in second place behind Ballymacash Rangers while they also won the Steel & Sons Cup on Christmas Eve to put silverware in the cabinet. Bangor have a good spread of Irish League talent in their ranks that will not have gone unnoticed and they could come up against James Taylor in goals, Reece Neale and Seanan Foster in defence and Jordan Hughes up front. Also available for Bangor are ex Crusaders players Tom Mathieson, Dylan O'Kane, Ethan Boylan and not forgetting Michael Halliday.
Crusaders have reached the 6th Round by beating Dergview 6-1 at Seaview.
Bangor have reached the 6th Round by beating Tandragee Rovers 4-0 at Clandeboye Park.