League leaders Coleraine come to Mourneview Park tomorrow for what many have billed as the ‘biggest game of the season’ as first take on second in the Dankse Bank Premiership.

Andrew Mitchell scored the last time the teams met. Photo by Maynard Collins

Can second-placed Glenavon be the first team to inflict a league defeat on the Bannsiders this season? Gary Hamilton is certainly going for the win, as he does in every game, and he feels the supporters will have a big part to play in getting behind the team. “To me every game is a big game and we try to win every game and this will likely be the biggest crowd of the season so far at Mourneview and probably the biggest crowd the boys have played in front of this season so from the crowd perspective it is probably the biggest. Hopefully tomorrow we get a good crowd and, as they have been in big matches before, they’ll be a big benefit and help to us. We need the supporters to get behind us and help the boys and be like an extra man for us. We know from having had Coleraine watched that their fans have been an extra man for them in a lot of games and helped them through some tough games when they maybe weren’t getting it as easy. Hopefully our fans can do the same for us tomorrow.”

Coleraine is the only team to have defeated the Lurgan Blues in the league this season and Gary conceded that they fully deserved their 4-2 win at the Showgrounds back in September but he feels his players have learned from that defeat. “People might say we didn’t play to our potential that day but you can only play if you’re allowed to and I thought that Coleraine that day were magnificent. They didn’t allow us to play, put us under pressure and they were better going forward as well and deservedly scored more goals than us and probably should have scored more than they did.

“The boys have reacted well to that defeat and have gone unbeaten in the league since it so they’ve come out of it well and hopefully tomorrow we can go and show what they’re all about and put in another good performance, as they have been doing recently, and, with a bit of luck, they’ll get a win. That’s the aim as it has to be in every game.”

Matchday Sponsors

The Match Sponsors are The Syndicate: consisting of Dr. Stephen Best, Cllr. Paul Rankin, Cllr. Philip Moutray and Unch High St. Portadown. The Ball Sponsor is the City of Armagh GSC and the Glenavon Man of the Match sponsor is Eddy Kerr.

Act of Remembrance

Reminder that there will be an Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial Garden beside the Crescent Stand, commencing at 2pm. All are welcome to attend.

Grand Christmas Draw

Christmas Draw tickets are now available from Blue Zone, any director or member of the Development Group. Tickets are priced at £10 each or 6 for £50. Get yours on Saturday!