Tommy Wright’s Ballymena United side has a chance to put their Boxing Day defeat to Coleraine behind them, with the visit to the Newry City this Saturday at the Newry Showgrounds.

Ballymena slipped to ninth in the Carnegie Premier League and are level with Newry on both points and goal difference going into the game. Although the Sky Blues haven’t won at the border club since April 2001, when Kenny Shiels’ side won 2-0 thanks to goals from Jason Allen and Shea Campbell; and haven’t defeated our hosts at all since September 2004, 2-1, at the Warden Street venue. The Sky Blues visited Newry twice last season, drawing 1-1 in the CIS League Cup with Rory Hamill grabbing a rare goal and losing 2-0 at the start of the league season.

Roy Coyle’s side, however have also not been able to get their season going, and their Boxing Day win against Armagh City halted a run of five straight league defeats that had caused rumblings in the press about the security of former Ballymena player, Coyle’s job. Their lowest point of the season though has been an eight goal humiliation by Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. So far, City’s only wins in the league have come against Glenavon, Limavady, Larne and Armagh.

Tommy Wright is another manager feeling the strain of poor results – but is nearly at full strength for the trip south. Randal Reid was to return to training this week, but may not be fit for selection. Paul Brown will be available for the squad; though the Ballymena manager is expected to make wholesale changes from the side that lost to Coleraine, a few days ago. Kevin Kelbie will make a landmark 50th appearance for Ballymena if selected, he has scored 22 goals in his 49 games since joining last August.

Travel Arrangements

The Seven Towers Supporters' Club will be running a bus to the game, which will be leaving from the Moat Bar, in Harryville - departing at approximately 1.00pm. All welcome.

Key Players

Captain, Damien Curran has been one of the few common figures at Newry in recent years, despite endless amounts of personnel changes in a short space of time. Based in Antrim, Curran began his career at Everton as a trainee and returned home and signed for Newry Town in 2002 when Alfie Wylie was in charge. The combative midfielder has been a key figure in the centre of midfield.

Ex-Players

Newry City boast just one former Ballymena United regulars, during their time at the Braid. Popular goalkeeper; Robert ‘Goose’ Robinson spent nearly three years at Ballymena after joining from Linfield – and was outstanding, if not temperamental in the Ballymena goal. He left shortly after Kenny Shiels left United, and signed for Roy McCreadie at Newry. Ballymena’s only ex-Newry connection is Austin Friel, who spent a forgettable short period of time with Newry in 2004 – before moving to Limavady the following season. Friel had been part of Roy McCreadie’s successful Omagh Town team, and when Roy moved to Newry – Friel followed; but only just over a season at the Marshes.

Previous Meetings

07-01-06; Premier League: Ballymena United 0-0 Newry City
24-09-05; Premier League: Newry City 2-0 Ballymena United
30-08-05; League Cup: Newry City 1-1 Ballymena United
20-08-05; League Cup: Ballymena United 1-2 Newry City
01-03-05; Premier League: Newry City 1-1 Ballymena United

Form Guide

Ballymena United
League Position: 9th – 16 points.
Top Scorer: Kevin Kelbie (6)
Away Form (Last 6 Games) - LLDLWD

Newry City
League Position: 10th – 16 points.
Top Scorer: Richard Clarke (5)
Home Form (Last 6 Games) – DWLWLL