Wayne hopes to keep old friends at bay

Keeper Wayne Drummond heads back to his old stomping grounds of Seaview and Ballymena Showgrounds with mixed feelings. During his time with the Sky Blues he suffered a number of ups and downs, but at the Crues, for one reason or another, he didn’t even get the chance to sample his share of first team action.

He is however looking forward to the challenge which awaits both hime and the Bannsiders this week.

“It’s a massive week for the club and obviously there’s an extra edge to it for me as I’m going back to two of my former clubs,” Drummond told Times Sport.

“I would probably see Ballymena as more of a former club as I didn’t play as much as I would have like to at Crusaders, but it’s going to be an interesting week that’s for sure.

“It will be a good test for us against two good teams.

“Crusaders are a good team and they proved on Saturday by beating Cliftonville they are more than capable of beating anyone.

“It’s difficult to go to get a result at Seaview at any stage of the season as the 3g pitch obviously favours the home side and it’s also a very tight pitch, but there’s also the extra added dimension that it’s a cup game.

“But as we’ve shown we can more than be a match for anyone on our day too and we will go there determined to make it in to the next round, there’s no reqason why we shouldn’t.

“You always want to do well in the cup competitions as if you progress to the final it’s a great day out for the fans and the whole town and that’s definitely something we will be hoping to achieve.”

One thing the former Rangers man will be hoping to achieve is tasting victory in a derby match for the very first time.

“I played in three or four derbies while I was at Ballymena and I’m still waiting to win one, hopefully I’ll put that record straight on Saturday,” said Drummond.

“It will be a tough game as any derby match is and with it being away from home makes it even tougher.

“But I’m looking forward to it, I think I’ll need thick skin that day for sure. I’m sure I’ll get a bit of banter from the home fans!

“I didn’t realise until I played in the derby match just how intense it was and what it meant to the fans on both sides. It will be a great day and hopefully we can keep our run going.”

Drummond, who is pleased with his own form, is delighted to go into such a big week on the back of a win.

“It was massive for us to pick up the win today going in to this week,” he said following Satyrday’s win over Ards.

“We definitely needed to pick up the three points. The league is so topsy turvy this season a couple of wins can lift you right up the table.

“We knew it was going to be another very tough game but we went out and battled all the way.

“Personally I was a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded. I would have loved to have got the clean sheet and it put a bit of pressure on us in the closing stages.

“But all that matters is we got the three points. The defeat at Windsor last week was hard to take.

“We all worked so hard especially going down to nine men and deserved to take something out of the game.

“I felt I had a good game. I’m playing every game with a smile on my face right now. I haven’t enjoyed a season like this in a long, long time.

“There’s a long way to go but I just want to go out every week and do my best.

“I’m not out to prove anyone wrong or right I’m just out to prove myself. I knew I had it in me to play at a high and consistent level and long may it continue.”