BANGOR are out to get their promotion bid up and running at the third time of asking when they take on Newington in the Playr-Fit Championship at Clandeboye Park on Friday night (7.45pm).
Lee Feeney’s Seasiders mounted a spirited attempt last season to secure a place in the Sports Direct Premiership before coming up just short - Portadown eventually taking the automatic promotion spot as champions - and have opened the current campaign with an opening day 2-2 draw at home to H&W Welders followed by a 1-0 defeat at upwardly mobile Annagh United last week.
North Belfast side Newington started last season strongly before the Swans were eventually grounded well off the promotion pace.
The rest of the Championship programme takes place on Saturday afternoon (3pm) with Institute - who lost out to Ballymena United in the play-offs last term - taking on the visiting Welders at their temporary Brandywell home. Stute chairman Bill Anderson this week said that a new stadium could be up and running on the Waterside within two years after the club’s Riverside ground in Drumahoe was lost to flooding seven years ago.
There’s a tale of two cities at Holm Park as newly promoted Armagh take on relegated Newry, new boys Limavady go to Dundela, Ballinamallard host early pacesetters Ards and Ballyclare face Annagh - second only on goals scored - at Dixon Park.