Preview: Ballinamallard Utd. (H)

Ballinamallard United are the St. Patrick’s Day visitors to Mourneview Park tomorrow with a new man in charge after the resignation of manager Gavin Dykes following last weekend’s 4-0 home defeat by Ards. Former player and manager Harry McConkey, takes charge of the Ducks for his first game in charge since guiding them to the Second Division title back in 2003.

“When a new manager takes over the team often gets a lift, as we’ve seen when Ronnie (McFall) took over at Glentoran, so possibly this is the worst time to be playing them but we’re looking for a good end to the season and to finish with as many points as possible and to hold onto third place if we can,” Gary Hamilton explained.

“We’re looking to get two wins in our last two games ahead of the split. The boys have to take their performances from the Glentoran game, they were very, very good and deserved to win the game but unfortunately we didn’t take our chances and had a couple of little bits of the rub of the green go against us. Even in the Crusaders game, the way they played especially in the first half and the effort and some of the passages of play was really good, although that may sound stupid after getting beat 6-1, we were really happy with the individual performances and as a team. In terms of effort and commitment, there was everything that we look for. The only really disappointing one was the Loughgall game – if we’d had the same attitude and application that we got in the Crusaders and Glentoran games then we’d be in the semi final now.

“That’s dead and buried now so we have to make sure that tomorrow we go out with the same application, effort and desire that we showed in the Crusaders and Glentoran games and hopefully we’ll get that rub of the green tomorrow and we’ll put away our chances at periods of the game when we need to.”

On the Ducks’ last visit to Mourneview, back in August, an Adam Foley hat-trick and an Andrew Mitchell double contributed to a 6-2 thumping for the Ferney Park outfit. In the return game in November Glenavon went back up the road to Lurgan with all three ponts following a 3-0 win. Mark Sykes, James Singleton and Marc Griffin were the goal scorers on that occasion.

Mark Sykes celebrates after opening the scoring against Ballinamallard at Ferney Park in November. Photo by Maynard Collins

Simon Kelly is suspended tomorrow and Andy Hall and Andy McGrory are both out injured. Hall broke down in training on Thursday night with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that has kept him out since the 2-1 win at Carrick and McGrory has a foot injury. There is some good news as Joel Cooper is back from the calf strain that forced him to miss the last two league games.

Form Guide

Last Five League Games

Glenavon: W W W L D

Ballinamallard: W L L L L

Head to Head

Glenavon: W7 D1 L2 F23 A7

Match Officials

Referee: Ross Dunlop
Assistants: Gareth Eakin & Ken Ross
4th Official: Neil Robinson

Charity Collection

Helen Bleakney and Joy Devine from Brownlow Integrated College will be taking part in a ‘Trek’ in support of Action Cancer and we will be having a Charity Collection for them at tomorrow’s game. As you always do, please give generously.

All the funds raised by Helen and Joy will be spent on Action Cancer’s local services.

Action Cancer’s services include early detection clinics, a BIG BUS mobile screening unit, health promotion for workplaces, community groups and schools, campaigning, counselling and complementary therapies for people living with cancer and their families. It is also the only charity in Northern Ireland to offer breast screening for women. Action Cancer receives no government funding and so relies entirely on voluntary contributions to maintain and deliver its services. It must raise over £3.5 million every year in order to do so. All funds raised by the charity are spent here in Northern Ireland.