Corner up for the cup!
Thursday, 23 October 2008
CHINMEY Corner Football Club take on former boss, Colin Telford's Rosario this weekend in the first round of the JJB Irish Cup.
If successful they will move one step closer to setting up a much-sought after and lucrative match against a Championship side who enter the tournament in the third round.
The Allen Park outfit have never played in the first round before, normally the beneficiaries of a bye like their first division counterparts, but this season the IFA have given the competition a much-needed revamp.
Out of the 74 intermediary teams in the first round hat, the Allen Park outfit have drawn a home tie against their former manager on Saturday, October 25, who has also recruited a number of last season's Chimney Corner players to make up his new starting XI.
Club Secretary John Robinson said of the mouth-watering tie against the relative underdogs who play in the 1A Amateur League.
“They have nothing to lose as we are the Senior team," he said. "Chimney Corner used to enjoy going to bigger clubs and trying to upset them but now the shoe is on the other foot so we need to be careful but everybody is confident we'll get the win and set up a draw with one of the big guns in the competition.
“The third round brings in Championship sides like Ballyclare or Portadown so if we get through we're hoping for an attractive draw. A big Irish Cup match at Allen Park is always a boost for the club, both financially and for the fans to watch."
The local crowd will no doubt be out in force to support their team and hopefully see them progress into the next round.
“We're looking for a good run in the Irish Cup as if you go out early you have a lot of free Saturdays, which isn't good for the boys, you want to be playing every weekend."
John also spoke about inviting ex-manager Colin Telford back to the Antrim ground.
“Colin was our manager last season, it's funny how football always throws up draws like this," he said. "Out of all the 74 teams in the draw we get Rosario and Colin. He has a few ex-players of Chimney Corner too so no doubt they'll be looking to impress and do one over on us."
The Club Secretary is hoping the home advantage will be telling on Saturday though and extra time and penalties won't be needed to get the win as the match will be played to a finish.
Their competition, Rosario, however will travel to the Allen Park venue coming off the back of an impressive 2-2 draw against UUJ.
“We know virtually nothing about Rosario and can only go by what we read in the paper but I think they are one of the better sides in their League and are up near the top somewhere but I'm confident come 4.30pm on Saturday we'll be in the hat for the next round," said Mr Robinson. "We have the home advantage so our players won't have any travelling to do and the pitch is in good condition so I think we'll come through unscathed."
