Win can put Whites right in the mix for top spots

Distillery boss Tommy Kinkaid. Pic by Mervyn McClelland/Presseye

The Whites are fifth in Championship One, six points off the top four.

If they miss out on victory this weekend, Distillery could easily become cut off from those challenging for the promotion spots. However, a win and they could be right in the mix.

They have a game in hand on Ards, who are seven points ahead of the Whites in second spot. It’s all to play for and boss Kincaid knows a victory is a must at Holm Park.

“The idea is just to get as many points on the board as possible but obviously we’re looking at the table and want to stay in contact with those above us,” he said.

“Armagh are a good side and we know this is going to be a tough game for us. We’ll have to be at our very best to beat them, that’s for sure.”

Kincaid is confident his side will be up to the task even without the injured Joe McDonnell and Ryan Corrigan while Peter Sargeant and Stuart Thompson are both doubts for the trip.

The Whites will welcome striker Darren Smyth into the panel for this weekend’s game against Armagh City at Holm Park after he returned from his loan spell at Comber Rec.

Meanwhile, boss Tommy Kincaid has been frustrated by financial restraints in his bid to add a former Distillery favourite to his squad.

“I wanted to sign Gary Browne and Daniel Burns but we couldn’t,” he said.

“It’s not easy to keep up with other clubs in the league who can add to their squads.”

Browne, of course, caught the headlines playing for the Whites before earning a move to Linfield in 2011. He has since transferred to Coleraine and, this month, was put on the transfer list, searching for a club closer to home.

Burns, meanwhile, joined Knockbreda from Loughgall before suffering a suspected broken leg on his debut at the start of the month.

Saturday’s game will be the Whites’ first for three weeks.

“It’s frustrating but that’s just the way the league is,” said the boss.

“It hurts the club as well but we’ve got to get on with it. We’ve been training away and I just hope the lads are bursting to get back into action now.