Glentoran v Ballinamallard United
Saturday 28th April 2018, 3pm.
On Saturday we end the normal phase of the league season as we started it, with a match against Ballinamallard United.
This is a massive game for our visitors and they’ll be well up for it as they will need to win and hope Carrick Rangers drop points to be certain to avoid relegation following Carrick’s win at the Oval last Saturday. Our players will also need to be up for it after their meek second half surrender at home to Carrick to be sure we go into our first Europa League playoff match in the right frame of mind and to give the supporters a rare home high spot in the season’s last game at the Oval.
Our record so far this season against Ballinamallard is decent. We started the season in a positive vein when a double from Curtis Allen gave us a 2-1 win at Ferney Park. In January, also in Fermanagh a late equaliser from James Knowles earned us a 2-2 draw while at the Oval in February two second half goals from Willie Garrett and Cutis Allen (his eleventh goal for us against Mallards) gave us a 2-1 win over 10-man Mallards who’d had goalkeeper Richard Brush dismissed.
Ronnie McFall said after training on Thursday night:”Curtis Allen is available as his appeal hasn’t been heard yet so he’ll play. Though we still haven’t heard if he’ll be available for the playoffs, which isn’t great for our preparation.
John McGuigan will miss this one with the tweak he took in his ribs last week. Robbie McDaid will also miss this one but both players will definitely be okay for the playoff match. Nathan Kerr is also carrying a knock and Willie Garrett hasn’t recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up against Warrenpoint.
I’ve called three young players – Christopher Conn, Paul O’Neill and James McCarthy – into Saturday’s squad. They’ve all earned this opportunity after doing consistently well for the Under 20s and hopefully we’ll get the chance to get them on the pitch at some stage on Saturday.
Finally congratulations to our young players Nathan Kerr and Dylan Davidson on being called up for a Northern Ireland Under 20 training camp next month. It’s always difficult for young players coming back from full time football as there are massive adjustments to be made in their life. Nathan and Dylan came into the Glentoran team in what’s been a tough season for the club and they’ve played a lot of matches and done well. That will help them with their long term development and they totally deserve this selection.”
The Board of Directors at Glentoran Football Club would again request that all supporters travelling to the Oval by private car consider the local residents when deciding where and how to park.
