Preview: Ballymena United v Glenavon

Glenavon head to the Ballymena Showgrounds for tomorrow night’s televised Danske Bank Premiership game for what Gary Hamilton expects will be a tough encounter with the Sky Blues. “From my point of view, it’s probably going to be the toughest game we’ve had in some while. Davy has Ballymena playing really well and he’s brought in a lot of very energetic young players and they’re very similar to ourselves, though they play a different formation. They have three guys up front who score goals and they’re a handful for any defence. He’s improved their backline too and they’re conceding less goals so he’s definitely done a good job over the summer with his recruitment.

“The first game at Mourneview was a very difficult game so we expect another difficult game tomorrow night. Up until their player got sent off they were right in the game and they were as good as us but unfortunately for them and fortunately for us, the red card in the first half changed the game and we went on to win it. I’ve no doubt tomorrow night that, if they keep all their players on the pitch, it’ll be a difficult game to come away from with three points – we need to go there and be at our best tomorrow night. The confidence that the boys have had over the last while, winning games and the performances that they put in on the pitch, the energy they’ve shown and their hunger and desire, hopefully that can work for us tomorrow night and we can maybe surprise a few people and get a result. That’s what we want to do and we’ll certainly be trying to collect the three points if we can, as we do with every game.”

Ballymena’s Andrew Burns is sent off by referee Steven Gregg in the last game at Mourneview Park. Photo Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press

Rhys Marshall, Andrew Mitchell and Aaron Harmon are all available after completing one game suspensions and Sammy Clingan will be back in the squad after playing the full 90 minutes in Tuesday night’s Mid-Ulster Cup win against Loughgall. “I was delighted to get a good victory against Loughgall the other night. I thought the young lads did well but I was delighted for the first team players that haven’t been really getting game time recently. They all got 90 minutes under their belt and they kept the run going of picking up wins,” Gary concluded.

Glenavon’s Aaron Harmon scored the last time the teams met at Mourneview Park Photo Alan Weir/Pacemaker Press

Supporter Travel Information

The Oldstone Road, which leads from the Airport roundabout to Antrim, passing Muckamore Hospital, is closed until December. This is adding 10-15 minutes to the journey time so fans may wish to allow extra time for the trip tomorrow night.

Form Guide

Last five league games

Ballymena: L W W D W

Glenavon: W W W W W

Head to Head

Last ten games in all competitions: Glenavon: P10 W6 D2 L2 F31 A12; Average goals per game: 4.3

Stats a Fact

Jordan Jenkins (JJ), who scored the winners at The Oval two weeks ago and in Tuesday’s Mid-Ulster Cup game, bagged a double against the Sky Blues on his league debut, in a 3-0 win at Mourneview in April 2017.
There have only been two 0-0 draws between the sides in the last 42 meetings, the score draws averaging nearly 3 goals per game!
Aaron Harmon opened the scoring last time the teams met, his first goal for Glenavon since joining over the summer.