David Jeffrey extended a notable knockout stat as Ballymena United manager in Tuesday night’s Irish Cup win over Portstewart at a soggy Showgrounds.
Goals from Ryan Waide, Paul McElroy and Mikey Place sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory in the second round of the blue riband competition.
And it means United, who now face Larne in the last-eight on March 5, have yet to bow out of a cup competition earlier than the quarter-final stages in Jeffrey’s six years at the Showgrounds helm.
In 15 previous outings in knockout competitions as Sky Blues boss, Jeffrey has reached six finals and fallen at the semi-final and quarter-final stages three and six times respectively.
“Very pleased,” he told Ballymena United TV after Tuesday night's win. “We knew this was a chance for us to progress to the quarter-finals, but we also knew it was a chance for Portstewart to progress.
“It was a very difficult night and the playing surface, as everyone knows, is very hard and isn’t conducive to free-flowing football.
“Great credit to Portstewart who certainly gave their best and worked very hard. It wasn’t some ‘rollover’ job, not by any stretch.
“But we were competent, we were professional and we did what we had to do and that was progress to the next round.”
January signing Place pounced for his first ever Ballymena goal after Waide and McElroy had eased the Sky Blues into a 2-0 lead.
It was Waide’s first goal since September and McElroy’s 11th of the season after making his previous two appearances from the bench.
“We now have competition for places,” said Jeffrey. “We have Paul and Ryan who want to play up front, but we also have David Parkhouse and Kenneth Kane.
“We also have Jonte Smith, so we have five players vying for places.”
On Place’s first goal for the club - a flashing header from a Ross Redman cross - he added: “It was a sumptuous ball in from Ross and Mikey got in with a good header.
“We’re just pleased to have progressed and we’ll look at the Larne tie when it comes around, but our focus now is on Glenavon in the league on Saturday.”
