BALLYMENA United will celebrate St. Patrick's Day in County Armagh as the Sky Blues face Armagh City at Holm Park in the Carnegie Premier League.

The game had been in doubt due to the fiasco regarding the Irish Cup quarter-final replay with Linfield, but Ballymena will now indeed face the tough trip to Gary McKinstry's Armagh side. The two sides played out a 2-2 draw in November, with Mark Picking scoring both United's goals that day. City currently sit 12th in the Irish League; three places below Ballymena United.

In the reverse fixture last season, Tommy Wright's Ballymena won by a single goal at Holm Park with Vinny Sweeney scoring the only goal of the game. Ballymena also won the home fixture, 3-0, last term - in City's first season back in the Premier League. In fact, you'd have to go back to February 2003 for Armagh's last victory over Ballymena - as they won 3-2 in a First Division game at the Showgrounds, where Shea Campbell was on the scoresheet for the Braidmen.

With Aidan Watson and Craig McClean serving their infamous one-game suspensions in this game, it means that Nigel Boyd will return to the squad for the first time since November; and could also mean a first start for Steven Lowry in midfield. Lee Patrick and Gavin Melaugh, who both missed last Saturday's draw with Limavady United with ankle injuries will still be a doubt for the game.

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 1.15pm with non-members welcome. It is currently unknown if the Paradise Supporters' Club will be running a bus to Holm Park.

Key Player

Former Ballymena striker Shea Campbell has been in outstanding form for Gary McKinstry's side this season as they have seemingly avoided relegation with ease. Campbell, who joined Ballymena from Dungannon in 2001, became a major hit scoring 38 goals in one season as Ballymena returned to the Premier League in 2003 - winning a Northern Ireland Under-21 cap as well. He left to join Linfield in 2005, followed by a spell at Glenavon before joining hometown Armagh last year, where he has rediscovered his form.

Ex-Players

Besides the previously mentioned Shea Campbell, the only other player with connections to Armagh or Ballymena is Holm Park midfielder, Keith Percy. The former Loughgall captain signed for Armagh City during the January transfer window, after leaving Loughgall after the dismissal of Jim Gardiner. Percy spent a season at the Showgrounds under Alan Fraser in 1998-1999, but after failing to make an impact at Ballymena returned to Loughgall.

Previous Meetings

DATE	COMPETITION	HOME TEAM	SCORE	AWAY TEAM
04-11-06	Premier League	Ballymena United	2-2	Armagh City
04-02-06	Premier League	Ballymena United	3-0	Armagh City
22-10-05	Premier League	Armagh City	0-1	Ballymena United
15-03-03	First Division	Armagh City	2-2	Ballymena United
01-02-03	First Division	Ballymena United	2-3	Armagh City

Form Guide

	BALLYMENA UNITED	ARMAGH CITY
LEAGUE POSITION	9th - 30 points	12th - 22 points
TOP SCORER	Kevin Kelbie (10)	Shea Campbell (16)
FORM (LAST SIX MATCHES)	DLWWLD	WWLLLL
LAST RESULT	D 0-0 v. Limavady United (h)	L 2-4 v. Dungannon Swifts (a)