Friday 17th February 2023
Kick Off 7.45pm
Tomorrow evening we visit Balltmena with the opportunity to avenge our New Year defeat at the Showgrounds.
Despite their progression to the Quarter Finals of the Irish Cup, Ballymena United have won just one league game since the sides last met at Warden Street on January 2nd, picking up just two points from their last five games and failing to score a goal.
While David Jeffrey’s side remain in seventh place, Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat away to Carrick has moved Rangers level on points with United, with only goal difference separating them. While they may sit immediately below Glentoran in the table, there is a gap of seventeen points between the two clubs.
Since January 2007, the Glens have experienced only three defeats in this fixture, but after losing 2-0 there last month and drawing on the three visits to Warden Street prior to that, our last win came via two very late goals to secure a 2-1 victory in August 2019. Last season’s only game at the Showgrounds ended in a 1-1 draw in March 2022, with United taking the lead just after half time through winger Ryan Waide before a penalty conceded by former Glens midfielder Kym Nelson on 55 minutes allowed Jay Donnelly to equalise from the spot.
Manager David Jeffrey saw six players depart in the January window; most notably highly rated Centre Back Conor Keeley moved to the League of Ireland with Drogheda United and striker David Parkhouse joining Cliftonville on loan. The sole new arrival being right back Robbie McVarnock from Championship side Newington.
Rodney McAree: “Our approach to the Linfield game on Tuesday night was very good throughout. We played exactly as we wanted to. Our high tempo put the Blues under pressure from early on and after an even first fifteen minutes we took complete control, dominated the play and could maybe have even scored a couple more. But I’m sure most Glentoran fans would happily accept a 3-0 Big Two win at any time.
No matter how Ballymena United are playing, its always a difficult place to go. The weather forecast predicts wind so I hope that doesn’t become too disrupting. We go there in good form and a confident mood after the Blues game, but equally we know the three points against the Blues will ultimately mean very little if we don’t follow it up with the right result tomorrow night.
Bobby will miss this one as he’s on a one game suspension. In one sense it’s a pity as he’s been playing so well, but we’ve been managing a nagging injury in recent weeks so this will give him ten days to rest it a bit. Singo and Hrvoje have both done very well when they’ve replaced Bobby so I’m happy with the options available tomorrow night.
Supporters will be aware that Ciaran O’Connor and Paddy McClean have left the squad in the past week. Ciaran has been great to work with and is a very good player. But he’s been travelling long distances to training every day without playing much, so he asked us to release him to give him the chance to find a club nearer his home and young family. The very best of luck to him as he’ll be very fondly remembered at Glentoran.
Paddy McClean’s decision to pack in football has been very disappointing. He’s a wonderful lad and a great player so he’ll be sadly missed. He seems to have fallen out of love with football and decided to focus on a complete career change. We’ll miss his presence both on the pitch and in the dressing room. We’ve retained his long term contract so Paddy will be welcome back if he has a change of heart.”
Tickets for Glentoran supporters remain available HERE.
