Derg host Annagh United under Friday night lights

DERGVIEW’S unbeaten run of four games will be put to the test when Annagh United roll into town for a Lough 41 Championship game under lights this (Friday) evening.

On Saturday the Castlederg outfit extended their undefeated sequence with a 1-1 draw against Institute at the Brandywell.

Tommy Canning’s charges took an early lead courtesy of top scorer Benny Igiehon but a highly-controversial penalty scored by Brendan McLaughlin secured a point for Stute.

While Dergview were being held in the north west derby, Annagh knocked leaders Ards off their perch with a 2-0 victory at Clandeboye Park.

Earlier in the season Annagh defeated Dergview 3-1 at Tandragee Road.

While Canning acknowledges that the Armagh outfit will present a formidable challenge he also considers Friday night as an opportunity for his team get back on the winning trial.

“We played them up there on a Friday night and outside a 15-minute spell played very well,” recalled the Derg boss. “But we will need to perform better than we did at the Brandywell

“Against Stute we were better than we were against Dundela but we need to be better again, it’s as simple as that. It’s a home game on a Friday night under lights and it’ll be interesting how we respond to that.

“We’ll train Monday and Wednesday this week and play Friday. We need to get back on track and get another three points.”

Reflecting on the drawn game against Stute, Canning said he is still struggling to understand how the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. It looked like Derg net-minder Alan Buchanan had gathered a low right-sided cross in his arms just before he was challenged by Stute midfielder Brendan McLaughlin.

The Strabane man spoke to match official Dairmuid Harrigan after the game but remains baffled following that conversation.

“I can’t make sense of how it’s a penalty,” he said.

“Unless there was something that I haven’t seen. I spoke to the referee after and he said that Alan has hit your man and then grabbed the ball. For me it was never a penalty. But the Veo (video) will tell the tale.”

Tonight’s game kicks off at 8pm.