WALKER SEEKS ‘DERBY’ DELIGHT

The Sky Blues take on bitter rivals Coleraine in the first of this season’s ‘derby’ clashes at the Warden Street Showgrounds this Saturday (3pm).

While United have plundered 11 goals en route to maximum points from three away matches, a record of just one point from four home games explains why Ballymena are merely positioned in the middle of the Carling Premiership table, rather than any higher.

United boss Roy Walker anticipates a cracking contest between two sides whose seven matches apiece this term have produced a staggering 53 goals!

“We’re going in level with Coleraine on points and a win would be good for us.

“We need to play with passion and we need to be absolutely tuned in – if we are, we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”

Walker admits he is still searching for answers to both United’s dreadful home form and also the Sky Blues’ unenviable defensive record.

“I saw some good things in the two Linfield games and at Cliftonville and I’m encouraged by the fact that we have players to come back in.

“But I can’t let Saturday’s result and scoring four goals paper over the deficiencies that I saw but we will keep addressing those deficiencies.”

The continual chopping and changing in the backline hasn’t helped the goals against total but Walker has hinted that he is ready to give Aaron Stewart and Liam Watson a prolonged run together at the heart of the defence.

“I’m probably going to stick with that partnership because I can see a good balance in it.”

They are likely to be playing in front of a new goalkeeper – United’s third different custodian already this term - with Wayne Drummond in line to make his debut between the posts.

The Northern Ireland under-19 stopper couldn’t make his debut last Saturday as United did not receive international clearance from his former club Glasgow Rangers and the Scottish Football Association before the 12 noon cut-off point on Friday.

“We missed the deadline by 44 minutes. We worked our socks off at this end to get him cleared but the procrastination was somewhere between Scotland and the IFA,” said Walker, who has ruled out re-signing former defender Lee Colligan, who has returned home early from a time spent travelling.

“Unless Lee would sign for nothing, we have nothing left in our budget - that is our squad finalised now,” said Walker.

This Saturday’s game will see the first in United’s popular series of corporate dinners, with 31 tables sold already for he function in the Des Allen Suite, with a limited number of spaces still available.

The event and match is sponsored by Northstone Ltd, with Gene Fitzpatrick as guest speaker.

Top table guests include the Mayor, Alderman Hubert Nicholl, Councillor James McClean, former player Bobby Averill, BBC presenter Jackie Fullerton and BBC radio pundit Liam Beckett.

The match ball for Saturday’s game will be sponsored by Ivan Kerr and George McDowell.