Saturday 13th November
3pm Kick Off
Ballymena United currently sit in eighth place after taking thirteen points from their first eleven games. They are eight points and three places below ourselves, with a game in hand. They have already visited the Bet McLean Oval once this season, losing 4-1 in early September. That night Conor McMenamin was the star turn for Glentoran; grabbing himself a hat trick to add to Robbie McDaid’s 17th minute opener. United have had mixed fortunes away from Warden Street so far in the League; winning two and losing four, although both of those wins have come in recent visits to mid Ulster against Portadown and Glenavon.
United will come into the fixture buoyant after beating Linfield 3-1 in the Bet McLean League Cup Quarter Final this week, their fifth win in their last seven games in all competitions. Striker Kenny Kane has chipped in with important goals since returning to the side, with summer signing David Parkhouse missing long term with injury. While injury continues to rule out defender Scott Whiteside and promising midfielder Josh Kelly, boss David Jeffrey has been boosted this season by the return to fitness of ex Glentoran left back Stephen McCullough and Captain Leroy Millar, with midfielder Millar netting the decisive third goal against the Blues.
Mick McDermott:” Tuesday night’s defeat at Coleraine was disappointing, particularly as we lost it by conceding two poor goals, rather than from any great dominance by Coleraine. In the first half we played some very good football, but probably too deep in our own half. At half time we asked them to raise the intensity and get into their half more. The players responded well, and I think we saw that in the 25-minute spell at the start of the half when we were well on top. But despite being in the ascendancy we didn’t take advantage and we were punished for that by an inexcusable second goal. So while I was disappointed with the result, I wasn’t disappointed with the performance. There were a lot of excellent individual performances at the Showgrounds, so we’ll build on that for Saturday’s match.
Saturday will be a very different game. Ballymena will be coming here on the back of two very good wins over Glenavon and Linfield. They will probably be more direct than Coleraine were. We know what to expect from Ballymena. They’re physical, strong and well organised and will be looking to get forward as often as possible. We’ll match that. If we put in performances like we did at Coleraine we’ll create plenty of chances, as we usually do. So it’s up to us to take those chances. If we do, we’ll win. If not, we’ll be punished for it.
Saturday's match will be streamed live by GlensTV with Performa Sports for those unable to make it to the Bet McLean Oval.
The stream will cost £10 and will be available online at the following site from our own bespoke club page:
https://www.performatv.com/game/glentoran-vs-ballymena-united-13-11-21
The game will be filmed by David Kerr of GlensTV. Commentator for the match will be David Lamont, alongside our all-time record appearance maker Colin Nixon. Other Glentoran Legends will join us for matches at various points in the season.
As always at home matches, we strongly request that supporters respect the rights of the local residents by parking well away from housefronts in the immediate locality. There is plenty of available parking at the Holywood Arches Heath Centre.
Saturday’s match ball sponsors are James Howley and Kevin (Rowly) Rowlinson, two lifelong friends who were Glentoran season ticket holders in their boyhood and teenage years. Their last game at the Bet McLean Oval was in 1971 when they both left Belfast to study in England. So, 50 years later, the two guys are making a nostalgic return to Parkgate Drive for Saturday’s game.
