IN-FORM Ballymena United travel to West Belfast on Saturday to face Donegal Celtic in a crunch Carnegie Premier League tie which marks the beginning of a busy Christmas period for the Braidmen.

Tommy Wright's Ballymena United side have clocked up a remarkable 13 points from their last 15 available, and will look to their festive fixtures to help push the Sky Blues further up the table ahead of the New Year; A situation that would have seemed a million miles away after the terrible start to the current campaign.

On Saturday, the Skies will visit Donegal Celtic for only the second time in the club's history but will already have the psychological advantage of having already beaten the hoops this season.

A Davitt Walsh penalty and a stunning solo effort from Mark Picking sealed a dominant 2-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield when the two sides met back in September at the Warden Street Showgrounds.

Donegal Celtic where only formed in 1970, and after years of domination in junior football they finally gained admittance to the Irish League in 2002. After to promotion to the Premier League in 2006; the historic first meeting between two sides was played in December last season at the Showgrounds, with the home side winning 1-0.

The reverse fixture last season was a much more contrasting game on Easter Monday, Paddy Kelly's Celtic side came from behind twice to give the relegation threatened side a 3-2 win at Suffolk Road. The home side went onto survive the drop after stringing a late-run of results in the league.

This season they have struggled badly, and go into this game without a win in six games – recording only four victories so far; against Limavady United twice, Glenavon and Second division strugglers, Glebe Rangers.

Despite losing Davitt Walsh to injury last Friday night, a number of players made their comebacks in a resounding victory for the Reserves over Larne on Tuesday night, Stuart King, Paul Brown and Simon Kelly will be hoping to be involved in United’s busy Christmas schedule starting with the trip to West Belfast.

Teenage defender, Johnny Flynn, will be serving a one game suspension for accumulating five yellow cards this season. He will likely be replaced by Simon Kelly, who ironically has just returned from suspension.

Darren Fitzgerald is expected to start alongside Kevin Kelbie in attack due to the injury sustained by Walsh.

Donegal Celtic will be without leading scorer, Paul McVeigh, as he also picked up a knock in their 1-1 draw with Armagh City last weekend.

Key Player

Flame haired midfielder, Stephen McAlorum signed for Donegal Celtic last season after progressing through the ranks at Glenavon. A former Northern Ireland Under-21 international, he is now an integral part of the Celtic midfield, and caused the Sky Blues major problems last Easter in the reverse fixture in Belfast.

Ex-Players

Ciaran Donaghy leads a host of former United players at Suffolk Road, the two-time Ballymena United player of the year left the Sky Blues in 2006 to join Celtic for their first Premier League season. He spent three seasons at Warden Street after signing from Lancaster City, playing 118 times and despite never scoring for the Braidmen, he rarely missed a game. Three other Celtic players all spent the early part of their career at Ballymena United together under Kenny Shiels. Kevin Duff played 37 times over three seasons before leaving for Bangor. Both Anto Crawford and Robbie White only appeared in the 2001/2002 season, Crawford making 8 appearances before leaving for Donegal Celtic and White making 6 appearances before joining Sunderland.

The only United player with a history at Donegal Celtic is midfielder Gavin Melaugh, who spent six months with DC after leaving Glentoran last season - only to join Ballymena United in January of this year.

Matchday News

There are two supporters clubs running buses to Donegal Celtic; the Seven Towers Supporters Club is running a bus leaving at 1.30pm from Henry Street car park. The Paradise Supporters Club is leaving at the slightly later time of 2pm, leaving from the Fountain Bar in Ballymena; all non-members are welcome on both buses.

Also, why not check out Donegal Celtic's new official website, it can be found at www.dc-fc.com.