Blues won’t underestimate Town in Mid-Ulster Cup

That’s according to the Lurgan Blues’ First Team Coach, Nigel Law, who has says that they want to win the competition.

“We’ll respect Banbridge but we will be looking to win the game,” he said, speaking exclusively to the Leader.

“Some people say that it might only be the Mid Ulster Cup for us it’s still important to have silverwear in the cabinet. We’ve had a good cup run this year in reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup and the quarter-finals of the Irish Cup and we’ll want to go all the way in this competition.

“We’ll be putting out a senior side but it gives us an opportunity to rotate the squad, given that our players will have played two games already this week.

“The game will be taken seriously and we will prepare for it in training on Thursday night, and with the greatest of respects to Banbridge we will be looking to progress.”

The game will evoke memories of Banbridge Town’s great 6-1 Bob Radcliffe Cup win over the Lurgan Blues back in 2005 - although they’ve not had much luck against the Premiership side in more recent years.

Indeed that very season Glenavon got their own back in the Mid Ulster Cup with an emphatic 5-1 win - Simon Rees scoring for the Crystal Park men - and a young Glenavon reserve side beat a Michael Lamont managed side 4-3 in October 2007.

The Town booked their place in the last eight of the competition following their 2-1 derby win over Rathfriland Rangers at Crystal Park on Saturday.

Goals from Willie Herron and Barry Tumilty sealed the win for Brian Adair’s side, with Stevie Coulter scoring from the penalty spot for ‘The Whites’.

“It’s a game we will look forward to - we have nothing to lose,” said Town Chairman Andrew Cully.

“We have a high regard for Glenavon as a senior team and for us it will be an absolute pleasure to go to Mourneview Park.”

The winner of the match will take on Lurgan Celtic in the semi-finals at a neutral venue and date yet to be decided.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 3pm and Town supporters have been invited to use the Victoria Glenavon Supporters Club’s facilities on matchday. The clubroom is located at the top end of the ground under the main Geddis Stand - go through the double doors at the top and turn left. The bar will be open from around 2pm and will remain open after the game if you need to quench your thirst.

The Town return to league action the following Tuesday (April 9) away to Ballyclare Comrades with a 8pm kick-off.

The fixture was originally due to be played last week but due to the changes to the international fixture the game was postponed.

The Comrades, who are fighting for the league, are hurting at the moment after their 10-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday following a 2-1 loss to Lurgan Celtic.

- The club will have a special guest when they travel to Armagh City on Saturday April 13.

Cyril Regis, the former Coventry and West Bromwich Albion player, will be the Town’s VIP on the day.