Surgenor aiming to end ‘derby’ day heartbreak

The homegrown midfielder felt the pain of last week’s extra-time defeat at Seaview as much as anyone - but has now turned his attention towards ridding the Sky Blues of another unwanted statistic in the Boxing Day game against Coleraine.

United checked a run of eight straight defeats at the hands of their bitter rivals with a 2-2 draw earlier in the season and Surgenor believes it’s high time the Sky Blues ended a run of more than four years without a ‘derby’ win.

“I think it’s 14 games since we last beat Coleraine, which is a ridiculous stat really,” said Surgenor, who celebrated his 28th birthday last week.

“It’s maybe slightly different for me in that I live here and have family and neighbours who are Ballymena supporters but, believe me, winning on Boxing Day means a lot to the other players as well.

“We’re anxious to give the supporters something to shout about in a ‘derby’ game because it’s been so long since it has happened.

“We were hurting mentally and physically after the semi-final defeat by Crusaders but the spirit remains really high because we have given a good account of ourselves in recent weeks.

“Glenn gave us the chance to take Thursday night off from training after the semi-final but the lads all decided to go in and train as normal.”

Thursday’s trip to Ballycastle Road gives Surgenor the opportunity for some personal atonement after he was sent off in the corresponding fixture two years ago, just prior to the appointment of Glenn Ferguson as manager.

“That game is still in the memory bank for all the wrong reasons,” groans Mark.

“We were struggling at the time but I still think we would have had a good chance that day if the game had remained 11 v 11 so I felt a lot of responsibility and it would be great to put that right.”

After being a peripheral figure in the opening months of the campaign, Surgenor has forced his way back into the starting line-up in recent weeks.

“I’m not an out-and-out matchwinner in the way that someone like David Cushley is, but I believe there is a role for me in the team.

“But I’m under no illusions that if my form dips, someone else will come in and take my place. Glenn always tells us that the people who have the jerseys have to keep them and those who don’t have to force their way back in.

“We’re looking forward very much to the Coleraine game - I’m sure it will be as feisty as ever.

“I’m sure Oran Kearney and Wes Gregg are scratching their heads at Coleraine’s recent run of form but I don’t think they’ll be expecting too much sympathy from us,” adds Surgenor.