Glentoran face Ballinamallard Utd in the Danske Bank Premiership at the Oval on Friday evening (kick-off 8pm). The Glens currently occupy 5th spot in the table, 6 points behind 4th placed Cliftonville. Ballinamallard Utd are in 10th position but with a 9 point cushion over basement side Institute.
This will be the fourth time the two sides have faced each other this season. The season was barely underway when the Glens travelled to Co Fermanagh to face the Mallards. Striker Anthony Elding gave the home side a first half advantage although Glentoran players went in at the break feeling somewhat hard done by, having two goals ruled out for offside. Jay Magee brought the Glens level and then 10 minutes from time Curtis Allen looked to have given the East Belfast team all 3 points only for Ballinamallard Utd skipper, Mark Stafford to pop up with a 93rd minute equaliser. In the League Cup the sides finished level once again after 90 minutes but it was Ballinamallard Utd who progressed to the semi-final of that competition, winning the penalty shoot-out. In early December Glentoran took the 3 points with a 3-1 win at the Oval in the Premiership. Two first half goals from Steven Gordon and a second half strike by Curtis Allen did the damage; David McKee getting an injury time consolation goal for the Mallards. You can watch the goals from that game again on BBC Sport NI HERE.
Ballinamallard Utd striker, Johnny Lafferty returns from suspension for the game as does Glentoran defender, Calum Birney who sat out last week's fixture at Portadown. Willie Garrett should return to the squad but unfortunately for Eddie Patterson he is without the services of last weekend's 'man of the match' Barry Holland. Holland serves a one match ban for picking up 5 yellow cards.
Kick off is 8pm and we would remind supporters that tickets for our Irish Cup semi-final against Crusaders will be on sale from the ticket office.