Ferguson wants Surgenor to stay on goal trail

Ballymena United manager Glenn Ferguson has laid down a challenge to Mark Surgenor to continue to hit the goal trail.
Mark Surgenor celebrates after scoring the first of his two goals  for Ballymena United in last week's win over Ballinamallard. Picture: Press Eye.Mark Surgenor celebrates after scoring the first of his two goals  for Ballymena United in last week's win over Ballinamallard. Picture: Press Eye.
Mark Surgenor celebrates after scoring the first of his two goals for Ballymena United in last week's win over Ballinamallard. Picture: Press Eye.

The homegrown midfielder has struggled to earn his place in United’s starting line-up this term but Ferguson is looking for more after Surgenor’s two-goal display in Saturday’s 3-0 over Ballinamallard.

“It was strange for Mark because he scored two goals but didn’t get the headlines unfortunately, because everybody was talking about Matthew Shevlin,” said Ferguson.

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“It was something we worked on during the week, making those runs in behind and Surgy’s hard to track when he does that.

“I thought Mark and Allan Jenkins were superb and I don’t just mean that in terms of Surgy’s goals - he put his head in, he passed it well and he got in among Ballinamallard.

“But he’s set the standard now. If he can do that in one match, there’s no reason why he can’t do it every week and he’ll get an opportunity at Cliftonville to do it again.

“It doesn’t really matter if you’ve won 12 games in a row going to Solitude - it’s always going to be tough

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“They are going for the title again and had another good win again last weekend but we have given a good account of ourselves on our last two visits there and we were unfortaunte not to win the last game in the County Antrim Shield.

“Johnny Taylor and Stephen McBride being back last week brought us more experience and gave us a better shape and it’s a bonus having them back,” added Ferguson, who is hopeful that Neal Gawley (hip), Matthew Tipton (foot) and Michael Ruddy (dead leg) will be fit to play after coming off with knocks against Ballinamallard.

* Seven Towers SC transport for Solitude leaves Henry Street car park at 2pm. Anyone - both members and non-members - intending to travel via Towers transport to next month’s League Cup semi-final at Ballinamallard must purchase a bus ticket, priced at £10, from Tommy Patterson or Uel Allen as soon as possible.

* Paranount BUSC holds its final monthly table quiz of 2014 in the Bowling Club this Friday evening, November 28, at 8.30pm.

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* Spirit of 89 BUSC has thanked the following sponsors of the club’s successful Night at the Races fund-raiser: CIGA; Chilli Pepper Tattoos; Paradise SC; First Score; Smithfield Arms; Chris Bell; McIlrath Solicitors; The Kiosk newsagents; Fit & Running; and DJ Ray.