Dergview face Queens in a bid to make further gains

DERGVIEW will continue their bid to climb further up the Lough 41 Championship when they host basement boys Queens University at Darragh Park on Saturday.

The Belfast students remain bottom of the table on just eight points despite a recent upturn in performances and results.

Last time out Queens drew 0-0 with fellow strugglers Dundela and the previous week recorded an impressive 2-0 victory at Ballyclare Comrades.

While the city slickers are propping up the rest, for the most part Queens have proved themselves highly competitive throughout the course of the season and Tommy Canning and his players will be anticipating another tough test come Saturday.

The last time the sides met at Darragh Park back in mid September Dergview secured a hard fought but richly deserved 3-1 victory.

Second half goals by Benny Igiehon, Jamie Browne and Dale Maxwell banked the points as the Castlederg outfit posted their third win of the season.

While Dergview finished comfortable winners on that ocasion it wasn’t all plain sailing by any means as the sides went into the break scoreless.

Brendan Glackin and Marc McKenna had the home defence on their toes throughout and it wasn’t until around the hour mark that Canning troops stamped their authority on procedings.

Igiehon headed in the first, Browne rounded the keeper for number two and after McKenna pulled a goal back for the students, defender Maxwell completed the scoring.

While Queens have shown an improvement of late, the Castlederg outfit will start as firm favourites given their decent form.

Dergview have won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six and last Friday the north Tyrone outfit registered an eye-catching 2-1 win at Ards.

With Knockbreda and Ballyclare Comrades facing challenging fixtures at Annagh United and HW Welders respectively, a victory could potentially leave the Derg outfit knocking on the door of the top six.

On Friday evening last  it was Pat Loughery and Niall McGinley who grabbed the goals in the victory over second-placed Ards and Canning and his coaching staff will be demanding their players deliver another top notch performance.