Glentoran came from a goal behind to defeat east Belfast neighbours H&W Welders 4-2 last Friday night and advance to the sixth round of the Irish Cup.

James Singleton headed the Glens in front in the 11th minute but goals from Ewan McCoubrey in the 22nd minute and twenty seconds into the second half edged their Championship opponents in front at the Blanchflower Stadium.

David Fisher's 58th-minute left-foot strike into the roof of the net drew the visitors level, then Welders defender Lewis Patterson headed into his own net 12 minutes later.

Frankie Hvid was alert in the box to fire home the fourth on the rebound after Danny Amos's shot had crashed off the post on 77 minutes.

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Ballymena United assistant manager Stefan Seaton says that it is "essential to get a reaction" from his side in tonight's quarter-final.

The Sky Blues exited the fifth round of the Irish Cup on Saturday after a shock 2-1 defeat by Championship Ards.

They beat the Glens in a league encounter earlier this season before losing against the east Belfast side in the County Antrim Shield

"It's essential to get a reaction and it is good the game comes so quick on Tuesday night and there's something else to play for," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We finished Saturday's game so strongly, so hopefully we carry that into the next game and get a positive result."

Glentoran manager Declan Devine told BBC Sport NI that it was "a slight advantage" that the game was now being played at his side's home ground but he expected a very difficult encounter against the Sky Blues.

"We'll take it. The Oval is sitting in perfect condition. The groundsman has done a wonderful job on it," said the Glens boss.

"We know Ballymena are a good side. They have players like Ben Kennedy and Patrick McEleney so we know we're in for a tough game," added Devine.

"When we played them there a couple of months ago it was an extremely difficult game and there was very little between the teams that night.

"We know they'll be hurting from Saturday and we know we need to improve from Friday. It has the makings of a really good game."

Both sides had differing fortunes during Irish Cup weekend. Crusaders were the comfortable victors against Knockbreda and make two changes to that starting XI with Robbie Weir and Stewart Nixon replacing Harry Franklin and Ross Clarke, who both aren't involved in tonight's squad.

As for Larne, they were defeated by Limavady with Gary Haveron making five changes to the side from Saturday.

Shaun Want, Levi Ives, Mark Randall, Dylan Sloan and Andy Ryan start with Sean Graham, Benji Magee, Jordan McEneff, James Simpson and Ryan Nolan all dropping to the bench.

Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Weir, Lowry, Blaney, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Larmour, O'Connor, Nixon, Barr.

Subs: Williamson, Owens, Smith, Brown, Walker, Downey, Bond.

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Ives, Donnelly, McKendry, Randall, Bolger, Cosgrove, Sloan, Gallagher, Ryan.

Subs: Besant, Thomson, Graham, Magee, McEneff, Nolan Simpson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Two teams who experienced differing fortunes in the weekend's Irish Cup go head to head to claim the last remaining semi-final spot in this season's BetMcLean Cup.

Ballymena United, who forfeit home advantage tonight because of an unplayable surface at the Showgrounds, crashed out to Ards while opponents Glentoran eventually got past the stubborn challenge of neighbours H&W Welders.

Glentoran manager Declan Devine makes three changes to his starting line-up as Andrew Mills drops to the bench with James Douglas and Frankie Hvid failing to make the matchday squad.

Daniel Gyollai returns in goal, Jonathan Russell is recalled to the starting line-up and there is a first appearance in Glentoran colours for former Derry City defender Shane McEleney.

Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin goes one better, making four changes to his team in the wake of Saturday's cup defeat.

Joseph Moore, Andrew Scott and Stephen O'Donnell are all relegated to the bench while Daniel Lafferty misses out completely.

In come Kym Nelson, Caolan Loughran, Jonathan McMurray and there is a welcome return for top scorer Ben Kennedy.

Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Sule (c), Connolly, Palmer, McEleney, Fisher, Amos, Singleton, Russell, Jenkins.

Subs: Mills, Donnelly, Aouachria, Murphy, Lindsay, Pattison, Thorndike.

Ballymena United: O'Neill (c), Nelson, Rocks, Gawne, Jarvis, Kennedy, Loughran, McCallion, McMurray, McEleney, Carson.

Subs: Stewart, Moore, Scott, O'Donnell, O'Mahony, Hawe, Hood.

Image source, BBC Sport

The decision to move the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final was made on Tuesday morning after heavy snowfall in the Ballymena area made the pitch at the Warden Street ground unplayable.

The last-eight tie was originally to take place on Tuesday 17 December but was called off on that occasion because of a waterlogged playing surface at the Showgrounds.

NIFL League Cup competition rules indicate that "should a match be postponed twice at the registered ground of the first drawn club the NIFL League Cup Committee reserve the right to switch the tie to the registered ground of their opponents on a date to be determined by the Committee."

The winners of the tie will face Crusaders in the semi-finals.

Image source, Press Eye

Welcome to our coverage of tonight's action with big cup and league matches on the menu.

The wintry weather has led to the BetMcLean Cup quarter-final between Ballymena United and Glentoran being switched from the Showgrounds to the Oval.

It now hands home advantage to the Glens and they will be favourites to progress to a last-four meeting with Crusaders.

Larne are chasing a third straight Premiership title but they must start racking up wins if they are to make it a reality.

The sit 22 points behind leaders Linfield, having played six games fewer, as they prepare to take on the Crues at Seaview.

We'll bring you text commentray and in-play clips from both games.

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, PACEMAKER

Live text commentary and in-play clips from Tuesday's Irish Premiership match between Crusaders and Larne at Seaview, and the BetMcLean quarter-final between Ballymena United and Glentoran at the Ballymena Showgrounds will appear here on Tuesday evening.