One of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the local Irish League calendar, as Ballymena United take on fierce rivals – Coleraine on Boxing Day in the Carnegie Premier League.

Marty Quinn’s side will travel to the Braidside a decent run of form after a stuttering start; draws with Portadown and Linfield were followed by a solid 2-0 win against Armagh City last week. This leaves the Bannsiders a point behind the Sky Blues going into the game, and sitting two places below United, in tenth place. Coleraine will be without veteran full-back Stuart Clanachan, who has a chipped bone in his wrist, and the visitors will also be sweating on the fitness of Stephen Carson, who went off injured in a recent reserve game.

It has been three years since Coleraine have beaten Ballymena, when an inspired Sean Armstrong scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition at the Ballycastle Road, on Boxing Day 2003. However, since then it has been completely one sided with four Ballymena wins in the five fixtures between the sides since. That included two 1-0 victories last season with Vinny Sweeney grabbing the winner on Boxing Day last year, and Kevin Kelbie with the solitary goal in April. In fact, it has been nearly six years since the Bannsiders last victory at the Warden Street venue – their last was in March 2001, when Sean Armstrong scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.

Tommy Wright’s only two injury worries are that of strikers; Randal Reid, who was injured in the win over Donegal Celtic two weeks ago and Austin Friel who was injured in last week’s reserve game between the two sides. Paul Brown, however, returned in said reserve game and comes into contention for Tuesday’s game. In-form Darren Fitzgerald has pledged his immediate future to Ballymena and will likely partner Kevin Kelbie in attack. The rest of the squad is likely to stay the same as last week’s trip to Loughgall.

Key Player

Midfield anchorman, Tommy McCallion was brought to the club after the fans grouped together to pay the transfer fee to complete his move from Institute. Although small in stature, McCallion has been a key figure during his second spell as a Coleraine player, having played for Cliftonville, Derry City, Glentoran and Institute in the intervening time, and won Irish League titles with both Cliftonville and Glentoran.

Ex-Players

For the visitors the only player with previous connections with Ballymena United, is midfielder Noel Anderson who was born in Ballymena and made a handful of appearances as a youngster under Nigel Best. Anderson joined Coleraine last season, after speculation he would return to the Braid – after leaving Lisburn Distillery.

United vice-captain, Gary Haveron was part of the Coleraine side that won the Irish Cup in 2003 and spent nearly three years at the Ballycastle Road, before moving to Ballymena. Mark Picking also spent two years at Coleraine, after joining from Ballyclare Comrades in 1999, he moved onto to Linfield in 2001.

Previous Meetings

15-04-06; Premier League: Ballymena United 1-0 Coleraine
26-12-05; Premier League: Coleraine 0-1 Ballymena United
23-04-05; Premier League: Coleraine 0-2 Ballymena United
27-12-04; Premier League: Ballymena UNited 2-2 Coleraine
24-04-04; Premier League: Balymena United 3-1 Coleraine

Form Guide

Ballymena United
League Position: 8th – 16 points.
Top Scorer: Kevin Kelbie (6)
Home Form (Last 6 Games) - WLDDLW

Coleraine
League Position: 10th – 15 points.
Top League Scorer: Stephen Carson & Damien Whitehead (5)
Home Form (Last 6 Games) – WDLLLD