BALLYMENA United face already relegated Loughgall, at the Showgrounds this Saturday in the penultimate game of the season.

The United faithful had some pride restored in their team last week, with a 1-0 win over Coleraine at the Ballycastle Road ground. Gary Haveron's strike early in the game proved to be the winner, in a game that Ballymena dominated with consumate ease.

The Villagers from Loughgall, ended their three year stint in the top-flight of Northern Irish football on Easter Tuesday, when a 1-1 draw with Armagh wasn't enough to save them from the drop, have currently only amassed a paltry eleven points. They did however pick up a morale boosting 1-0 win over Portadown two weeks ago, and have gone three games unbeaten going into this game.

The two sides met in December, at a time when Loughgall only had three points to their name after 12 league games. However, Ballymena's awful record at Lakeview Park continued when they could only manage a 3-3 draw, with goals from Darren Fitzgerald, Mark Picking and Stuart King to salvage a point.

Despite Loughgall's great league record at home to the Sky Blues, at the Showgrounds it has been a different story. Last season, two Gary Smyth goals and one from Kevin Kelbie sealed a 3-2 win. The season before Ballymena won 2-1 with Oran Kearney and Gary Smyth again on the scoresheet.

In team news, Paul Murphy remains the only ever-present in the United squad, having played every minute of every competitve game this season. However, Reserve team goalkeeper Sean O'Neill has been rumoured to be on the verge of getting his chance in the first team, with second choice custodian, Stuart Addis, currently out with a rib injury. Melaugh, Patrick and McConaghie are still out injured.

Young winger, David Cushley, who has impressed in his last few games picked up an injury at Coleraine - but will be recovered in time to play for Northern Ireland Under-18's on Friday night, alongside reserve team defender Johnny Flynn - who is on the verge of a senior debut. Aidan Watson's future has been cleared up this week but it is unclear whether he'll play against Loughgall, whilst Stuart King could return from an ankle injury.

Key Player

Goalkeeper, Marc Robinson has struggled since August with a persistent shoulder problem, which has troubled him all season. Which meant that former boss, Gardiner, brought in Ballymena goalkeeper Stuart Addis on loan as cover, but returned in November. Robinson, formerly with Lisburn Distillery and Portadown, was influential in the Villagers winning the First Division two years ago – and will be a key player if Loughgall are to avoid relegation.

Ex-Players

Darren Murphy spent a very short spell with Loughgall in 1995, and Stuart Addis had a short spell on loan to the Villagers at the start of this season. They are the only players with connections from either side.

Previous Meetings

DATE	COMPETITION	HOME TEAM	SCORE	AWAY TEAM
16-12-06	Premier League	Loughgall	3-3	Ballymena United
28-01-06	Premier League	Ballymena United	3-2	Loughgall
15-10-05	Premier League	Loughgall	2-0	Ballymena United
03-01-05	Premier League	Ballymena United	3-2	Loughgall
25-09-04	Premier League	Loughgall	1-0	Ballymena United

Form Guide

	BALLYMENA UNITED	LOUGHGALL
LEAGUE POSITION	9th - 39 points	16th - 11 points
TOP SCORER	Kevin Kelbie (15)	Steven Coulter (6)
FORM (LAST SIX MATCHES)	WLLWLW	LLLWDD
LAST RESULT	W 1-0 v. Coleraine (a)	D 1-1 v. Dungannon Swifts (h)