The A26 Derby

Ballymena United 1-3 Coleraine (NIFL Premiership)

It's my day off today. I've an early flight back to Glasgow tomorrow but I've done all the touristy things in Northern Ireland over my recent annual visits, so rather than sit in my B&B all day watching Homes under the Hammer, I'm off to find a match, and something to do.

Ballymena verses Coleraine intrigues me mostly. Firstly, I've always been intrigued by the name Ballymena, ever since getting a Nigel Worthington Panini sticker back in the day, and finding out he was born there.

Secondly, Lincoln City have a young loanee in Zane Okoro at Coleraine, who also have a goalkeeper on loan from Newcastle United in Aidan Harris, whilst the Braidmen (Bally's nickname) have an 18 year old defensive midfielder in James Hood, who's doing good things.

So with a ticket purchased online I jump in the hire car and as I drive from my digs through Antrim and up the A26 towards the Ballymena Showgrounds I notice a huge sign which says 'City of the Seven Towers'. Lying 30 miles north west of Belfast, Ballymena's historical original towers included the Old Town Hall, Braidwater Mill, St Patrick's Church, Ballymena Castle (now demolished), the First Ballymena Presbyterian Church, the Old Parish Church and All Saints Catholic Church.

Liam Neeson is born in the city of around 31,000 people, it's the seventh largest town in Northern Ireland and its name 'Baile Meánach' means 'the middle townland' in Irish.

History lesson over, I've arrived at a quiet street nearby where parking is plentiful, chimney smoke in the air, it's a grey and cloudy day and a cool chill brings some nip, I'm making the final walk over the last few yards towards a ground that until 2019 held Stock Car Racing, some Milk Cup ties in Junior Football and a few Irish Cup finals have also been played here over the years, it also has an annual agricultural show here I believe.

The Venue

As I turn the final corner past a couple of stewards into the Showgrounds spacious complex I notice an amateur match played on a 4g caged pitch outside the main stadium, there's another game on a second pitch nearby, a friendly stewards says 'hello' and tells me there's five games being played around here today, plus the derby. He tells me "they're queuing up at the turnstiles already to get in, it's going to be full, so you best get a seat and stay in it."

I didn't even realise the magnitude of this local'ish' tie such bad is my Northern Irish league football knowledge, but as I enter the stadium concourse, I soon get that feeling of excitement and anticipation within those queuing for the coffee bars and burger trucks.

It's a two sided venue, two nice sky blue seated stands opposite each other, a bowl like shape perimeter which looks a bit too dangerous and narrow for stock cars, fluffy green surface in the middle, the place reminds me somewhat of an old stomping ground at Grantham Town, you're a little closer to the action where that place has a running track, but looks are similar, the home fans seated in the South Stand, the away section over in the North, it's relatively cosy with a back drop of trees and housing but no spectator areas behind either goal.

The Game

The crowd has really built up as I sit seven or eight rows high, with people filling in the spaces either side, above and below me. It looks quite a following from Coleraine too who's fans drape a banner stating 'formed in 1927' as the two teams come out.

And no sooner have they put it down to get ready for kick off, do their side take the lead. A timely run by Will Patching has the box to box midfielder loft home and past the bald headed Shane O'Neill. There's not even a minute played on the clock.

I was expecting to see something exciting from Ballymena's teen midfielder James Hood, as the announcer called his name in the starting eleven ahead of kick off, he followed up with saying 'he's one of our own' but although looking neat on the ball early doors, he's struggling against a side that is very good, Coleraine are organised and up for it, but they look like they have a lot more than Ballymena in attack, players who can play and make things happen, like former Linfield playmaker Joel Cooper who carries the ball forwards by dribbling past opponents with his low centre of gravity. Jamie Glackin is another who catches my eye, hair in a bun, lovely technical footballer with elegance, Will Patching who used to play for Notts County, offers legs in midfield, young Okoro some pace on the right, whilst knitting it together is number four Dylan Boyle, who used to play for Ballymena.

As the home side defend another attack, James Hood stretches for the ball and does something to his back, he's in pain, and although he tries to carry on, lasts just a few more minutes before a substitute is made, shortly after, Coleraine make it two, Matthew Shevlin, who's been a handful as the lone front man, he brings the ball down and spins, shooting low with too much time inside the area, a well taken finish which begins a massive exodus for the toilets and tea bars ahead of half time.

The Score

It's been men against boys I feel as the visitors pass and move with purpose, they do things quickly, with intent, and have some style and grace in doing so.

There's a couple of fellas sat below me, who arrived late, just as the first goal went in. They sodded off 'for a smoke' when the second goal was scored ahead of half time and have just come back a minute or two into the second half, just as the ball hits the back of the net again.

Shevlin again with space, inside the area drills low, to make it three. It's all too easy.

That frees up a few spaces around me as some fans have seen enough, but Ballymena respond after Success Edogun comes on. He's a bit of a throw back striker. Reminds me of John Fashanu, he's big but quick and direct and gets the fans off their seats, which is exactly what is needed in this home end I'm sitting in.

Ballymena do get a goal back when Ben Kennedy bundles one in, he's been one of the few home players who's put himself about a bit, but Coleraine have too much, as their fans find out that Glentoran are losing, you can hear them singing "We are top of the league".

The last half hour is bitty and scrappy, Ballymena show resilience but it's all too late. Coleraine play out the game whilst offering a few sniffs to their hosts, but as the whistle goes they've been more than good value for all three points.

The Stars

Coleraine are excellent and it feels like it wasn't just because they were at it on the day, but because they actually have a really good team.

18 year old goalkeeper Aidan Harris from Newcastle gave assurance, some wild kicking but mostly a calm and collected keeper in the making. In defence, I liked right back Rowan McDonald, only 23, he started his career at Manchester City, comfortable on the ball, assured, their skipper Kodi Lyons-Foster likewise, neat in possession, reads the game well, he earned himself a card for having a kick out at Ballymena's Joel Thompson before coming off at half time, but the former Aldershot man is a Rolls Royce for this level. Another decent defender is left back Levi Ives who I previously seen play in the Champions League for Larne. Gutsy and committed, he took the armband when Lyons-Foster went off.

In midfield, they have a bit of everything, Dylan Boyle, still only 23, just sat and gave it all simple, small and gritty in the anchor role. That allowed players like Joel Cooper and Jamie Glackin to get on the ball. Cooper is an Irish league cult hero, been there, done it, he's still doing it after a decent career at Linfield. Glackin I liked, not just for his silky smooth touches, he tried an elegant chip that went just over the bar, played most of his passes with the outside of his foot, but in the last minute chased down Success Edogun to win back the ball brilliantly, before bursting into not one, but two cheers in front of his away following, which really got the blood flowing.

Without really being able to mention a star of Ballymena, other than Success, who off the bench was a powerhouse during an otherwise failing afternoon, I would like to see a bit more of James Hook, who went off injured. Another player I would like to see more of, is Zane Okoro of Coleraine who's on loan from Lincoln City. He has good attributes, technique, speed, a decent burst and makes good decisions from a wide position, but I wanted him to do more. Just 18, maybe he'll learn from some very good players that he's now regularly playing alongside.

The Verdict

As Glentoran lost 3-1 to Dungannon Swifts, Coleraine's win in the A26 derby takes them top of the Irish Premiership. Will they stay there? Well Linfield and Larne might be two other teams who have a big say on that.

As for Ballymena, I got back to my digs and was told by my B&B host that he thinks they're having a good season. And they are. Currently fifth in the table, I think if they stay there, they would be more than happy with that. I've not seen everyone in the division, but they aren't a bad team at all, just not, unfortunately, at the levels, of their foes from 27 miles north in Coleraine.

The Teams

Ballymena United: Sean O'Neill, Kym Nelson, David Toure, Ben Kennedy, Stephen O'Donnell, Matthew Clarke, Calvin McCurry (Dair O'Conchubhair 75), Joel Thompson (Success Edogun 52), Ryan McNickle (Jack O'Reilly 75 (Daithi Mccallion 90)), Kian Corbally, James Hood (Danny Lafferty 28).

Coleraine: Aidan Harris, Dylan Boyle, Joel Cooper, Jamie Glackin, Levi Ives, Dean Jarvis, Kodi Lyons-Foster (Charles Dunne 46), Rowan McDonald (Cameron Stewart 56), Zane Okoro (Declan McManus 86), Will Patching (Adam Long 63), Matthew Shevlin.

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 11th October 2025, Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena (att 2,000).