BALLYMENA United take a well earned break from League football, however a tough tie against Newry City awaits in the Fifth Round of the JJB Sports Irish Cup.

The Sky Blues were handed a very tough draw at the stage when senior teams enter, as they travel to Newry Showgrounds to take on Gerry Flynn side in one of the ties of the round.

United last won the prize trophy back in 1989, but despite three semi-final appearances since then (1992, 1999 and 2005) there is a shocking statistic that lies underneath this - in that the Braidmen have only defeated top-flight opposition three times since last winning the cup.

Fixtures against intermediate and First Division opposition have been plentiful over the past three years, but Ballymena's last victory over a top-flight team was FIVE years ago, when Kenny Shiels' side defeated Omagh Town in a replay at the Showgrounds.

The only other two victories came against Omagh again (1991/92) and Glenavon (1992/93) as under various managers the Warden Street side have fallen to no less than seven current Premier League sides over the last 19 years.

Despite already having beaten Newry City, only a couple of weeks ago, games between the two sides have been fairly even contests.

Kevin Kelbie struck twice to see of the border side at the Braid over Christmas, meaning that Newry haven't beaten the Sky Blues since September 2005.

Last season travel-sick Sky Blues chalked up a tremendous away victory winning 3-1 with goals from Randal Reid, Gary Haveron and Mark Picking. The final game of last season's Irish League saw the two sides draw 1-1 with Garth Scates scoring for Ballymena.

In team news, United will definitely be without Garth Scates who is serving a one game suspension for collecting five yellow cards, he will likely be joined by long-term absentee Aidan Watson in the stands.

With no official bid for Johnny Flynn by Blackburn Rovers, he remains available for selection but is carrying a knock from last week's game against Glenavon. Influential midfielder Gavin Melaugh also is in a race to be fit.

Captain Albert Watson is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the Glenavon game through a knee injury, he will come into the side for Scates, with stand-in skipper Gary Haveron returning to midfield.

City's new signing, Michael Collins finds himself suspended again, for his third red-card of the season after a head-butting incident in their victory over Dungannon Swifts last Friday.

Key Player

Midfielder Richard Clarke has attracted a lot of interest not only in the Irish League, but across the water. The Northern Ireland Under-21 international joined Newry from Omagh Town after they went defunct in 2005 as a teenager, and has gone from strength to strength down Newry way. After an impressive season last term he was on trial at Sheffield United this summer and speculation continues around the impressive youngster.

Ex-Players

Ballymena United's only player to have played at Newry was goalkeeper, Paul Murphy, who spent a very short spell at the Border side in 2005. He signed from Dundalk in January and only played two games before moving to Portadown - where he went onto win an Irish Cup at the end of that season,

Ironically it's another goalkeeper that has played for both clubs; current Newry number one is Robert Robinson who spent a successful two and a half years at the Braid. Signed from Linfield in January 2003, 'Goose' went onto make 79 appearances for the Sky Blues before joining Newry in the summer of 2005. The only other player with Ballymena connections is Tony Anderson, who played one season at Warden Street after working his way through the ranks. He made 13 appearances and scored one goal in United's relegation season in 2001 - before leaving for America, he returned last year with Larne before joining Newry in the summer.

Two members of Newry's management team will be well known to the United faithful, as Gerry Flynn made 66 appearances (scoring one goal) in two seasons at Ballymena in the Nigel Best era. He is now the boss at Newry City, whilst his assistant is former United midfielder Peter Murray who won the First Division with the Skies in 1997.

Matchday News

The Sevem Towers Supporters' Club transport to Saturday's JJB Sports Irish Cup tie at Newry City leaves Henry Street car park at 1.15pm.

Paradise 'Motorbody Repairs' Supporters' Club's bus - which has been kindly sponsored by Gordon FW McIlrath and Co - leaves at the same time from the Fountain Bar.

An early bus, comprised of members of both clubs, is fully booked and will leave the Smithfield Arms at 11.00am sharp.