Irish Cup win brings 'Surge' of expectation

Now the Broughshane man is dreaming of his first season at the Showgrounds ending that barren run after scoring the opening goal in a comfortable win over Ballinamallard which set up a quarter-final clash at Glenavon.

"The Irish Cup is massive," said Mark.

"I was watching the draw and the Ballymena fan in me was saying 'Coleraine at home' but with the Big Two getting each other, it's a big chance for us to progress.

"We would love to get through to the semi-final and give the Ballymena fans what they want – another big day out."

Surgenor, who is currently teaching PE at Ashfield Boys' School in east Belfast as he prepares to undertake further teaching qualifications, is enjoying his moment in the limelight with his second goal in successive games after answering manager Roy Walker's striking crisis.

"I scored 14 goals for Ballymoney one season playing in a variety of positions but I didn't really expect to be playing up front when I joined Ballymena.

"I'm really happy getting in amongst the goals. The gaffer has asked me to go up there and do a job, get about defenders, use a bit of pace and win things in the air.

"I missed a one-on-one at Institute and people were maybe thinking 'he's not a striker' but if you get into those positions, eventually you'll put them away and I've been practising runs to the front post in training all week," added Surgenor.

The local man followed up his midweek goal against Cliftonville with an assured finish from Chris Ramsey's cut-back on 14 minutes but Ballinamallard responded with an arrow-like 30-yard free kick from Cathal Beacom.

Kevin Kelbie restored Ballymena's lead by firing home a low drive on 33 minutes and skipper Gary Haveron gave the Sky Blues breathing space inside the opening minute of the second half when he arrived unmarked to sweep home Michael Smith's corner.

Kelbie converted a cross from the industrious Gavin Taggart to end the contest on 57 minutes but the Fermanagh side pulled a goal back when substitute Seamus Quigley stepped straight off the bench to head home from a corner.

But Kelbie had the final word on 62 minutes when he was brought down for a penalty by Mark McConkey. The striker had scooped the ball up almost before he had hit the ground and calmly sent keeper Trevor Morrison the wrong way to complete his third hat-trick in United colours.

The Scot said: "It was an average enough performance but the main thing was to get through. Once you get into the next round, you can worry about it then - if you're not in the next round, you can't worry about it," added Kelbie.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Ramsey, Colligan, Haveron, Watson, Stewart (sub Anderson 57), Cushley (sub A Smith 57), Taggart (sub McConnell 81), Surgenor, Kelbie, M Smith. Subs (not used): Lockhart, O'Neill.

Ballinamallard United: Morrison, McConkey, McKenna (sub Quigley 60), Liggett, Stafford, Hutchinson, Crilly, Beacom, McManus, Crawford (sub Higginbotham 70), Flagherty. Sub (not used): Cartres.

Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast).