BY MATTHEW WILSON
CRANFORD FC manager Danny McBride is hoping to make home advantage count this Sunday when his side host Whitestrand United in the Donegal Physiotherapy Division 2.
Cranford FC weren’t in action last weekend, with their last encounter being a 2-1 defeat away to Raphoe Town 11 days ago.
The Cranford Park outfit were in a rich vein of form heading into this match, picking up maximum points from their four previous games courtesy of wins over Drumkeen United, Letterbarrow Celtic, Dunfanaghy Youths and Curragh Athletic.
It was always going to be a tough contest against Raphoe Town, with them sitting top of the table, but McBride felt that his side put in a performance that may have warranted a share of the spoils.
“We were going well up until the Raphoe game, we had four wins in-a-row. In the Raphoe game, we were unlucky not to get something out of it. We had a good second half and I think a draw would’ve been a fair enough result had we gotten something but it wasn’t to be.”
“We’re looking alright. We have everybody back now and fit so the week off did us no harm either.”
Danny McBride’s men are proving effective at both ends of the pitch so far in the Donegal Physiotherapy Division 2 season.
Only three teams in the league have scored more goals than them to date while they also possess the joint-third best defensive record out of all the sides in the division.
Speaking about this, the Cranford FC manager puts this largely down to the settled defensive unit which they have in place while the returning Gary McClafferty has helped the team to increase their tally at the other end of the field.
“We’re fairly solid at the back, we’ve had a settled back four since Christmas and they’re doing well. The two Chris’s, Duffy and Carr at centre half, have been solid and also Jack (McAuley) at left-back and Kyle Doherty at right-back so hopefully they can keep it up for the next six games.
“At the other side too, there are boys chipping in with goals like Gary ‘Ban’ (McClafferty), I think he has six goals in four games. Even in midfield, Shane Coll and Ronan Pasoma are getting a few so it’s looking alright that way.”
The Cranford men’s strong start to 2026 is reflective in the league standings as they are occupying fourth place in the table , four points of Whitestrand United in second spot.
However, there is tough competition for the promotion places, with three other sides in the form of Drumoghill, Deele Harps and Letterbarrow Celtic all within touching distance of second place as we approach the business end of the season.
Having suffered relegation from Division 1 last term. McBride’s outfit would have been determined to bounce back immediately and they’re making good progress in their aim to do this but the Cranford boss is aware that this is easier said than done.
“The aim was promotion but it’s tougher than you think to get out of the division when you’re down there. Hopefully now in the next few games we can try and push on but we’ll take it one game at a time because anyone can beat anybody.”
Up next for Cranford FC is a meeting with Whitestrand United this Sunday at Cranford Park.
Brian Dunleavy’s men are on a good run of form and are on a six-game unbeaten streak entering this weekend’s encounter where they’ll be looking to further extend this.
McBride is aware of the challenge that this Sunday’s opponents will bring but with the contest occurring in their own backyard at Cranford Park, he’s hoping that they can make home advantage count when the pair take to the field.
“Whitestrand are a good team. They’ll be strong but we’re just hoping that we’ll have enough for them now at home. We’re solid at home and we’re hard to beat so we’ll just have to try the same now on Sunday and hope for the best.”
It’s a massive contest in the context of the league, with just six games remaining until each side’s fate will be determined.
A victory for Cranford FC on Sunday will bring them to within a point of Whitestand United in second place while a defeat would see the gap to them increase even further, with McBride labelling it as a ‘cup final’.
“It’s a massive game on Sunday. It’s kind of like a cup final because if you get beat you’re seven points behind them and only a point if you beat them. It’s definitely a six-pointer.”
