BALLYMENA UNITED V GLENAVON, A LOOK AHEAD 16404p

On Friday 30th August 2024 Glenavon faces Ballymena United at the Showgrounds, Warden Street. The match has a 7-45 pm kick-off. 694e5j

The Lurgan Blues’ optimism following last weekend’s fine 2-0 success at Coleraine has abated somewhat with the news that there are significant injury problems ahead of the trip to North Antrim. Isaac Baird, Calum Birney and Jack Malone plus Mark Haughey (groin), Rhys Marshall (groin), Peter Campbell (hamstring) and Niall Quinn (dead leg) are out. There is also considerable doubt about the fitness of Gareth Deane and Matthew Snoddy who have been unable to train due to illness. Stephen McDonnell has been forced to add five Academy players to his match day squad.

“We have had a really bad week from an injury point of view,” said the Dundalk man. “Mark, Rhys and Peter are each going to be absent for a minimum of two weeks. Niall has a chance of being fit next weekend but there are no guarantees. The two lads with flu are touch and go for Friday night. It is very frustrating after the win at Coleraine.”

McDonnell felt that the team’s excellent display against the Bannsiders offered real hope of consistently improved form and results. “We were really good last Saturday,” he said. “That was particularly the case from a defensive point of view. We had four young lads across the backline for most of the game – Barney McKeown at 23 was the oldest – and they were all brilliant. We are trying to change the age profile in this area. For them to perform at that level, as a unit, was really encouraging.”

Stephen was also pleased with the contribution made by the team’s attacking players. “I thought that we carried a threat every time we got forward, created some good chances and might have scored more than two goals,” he continued. “Barney missed a great opportunity from a corner kick in the second half. Again, it was really pleasing and demonstrates the quality we have.”

Ballymena, although still searching for its first win of the new campaign, has made a plethora of quality gs. Stephen is under no illusions about the size of the task ahead. “They are a completely different squad,” he said. “They have strengthened in virtually every position. The fact that they have not won a match yet is not relevant. They are probably still trying to gel. We will have to be as good, if not better, than we were last weekend if we are to win the game.”

Glenavon v Ballymena United, Last Season
Date	Result
02/09/23	Glenavon 1 Ballymena United 0
11/11/23	Ballymena United 0 Glenavon 1
30/12/23	Glenavon 0 Ballymena United 1
16/04/24	Ballymena United 1 Glenavon 0