Ballymena United 2, Coleraine 2

Alan Teggart scored a late penalty as Ballymena United battled out a thrilling 2-2 draw with ‘derby’ rivals Coleraine.
Ballymena's David Cushley challenges Coleraine's Stephen Lowry. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena's David Cushley challenges Coleraine's Stephen Lowry. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena's David Cushley challenges Coleraine's Stephen Lowry. Picture: Press Eye.

In a carbon copy of the corresponding fixture between the sides earlier in the season, the Sky Blues battled back from two goals down to earn a point in their quest for a top six finish in the Danske Bank Premiership.

Allan Jenkins dragged an early shot wide, while Jim Ervin burst into the penalty area but his low cross-shot was touched behind by keeper Eugene Ferry for a corner.

Coleraine’s first opening came on 10 minutes when Davy McDaid’s corner was only half-cleared to Steven Douglas near the edge of the penalty area but his volley was saved to his right by United keeper Aaron Shanahan.

As the game struggled to find any sort of rhythm, Cushley flighted in a cross behind the Coleraine defence which was narrowly missed by McLellan, with Ryan McIlmoyle diverting the ball behind for a corner.

At the other end, Gary Browne arrived in the penalty area to meet McIlmoyle’s cross from the left but his effort lacked the pace to beat Shanahan.

Ballymena wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring in the last minute of the half when Aaron Stewart’s pass sent David Cushley clear but the winger dragged his shot wide when well-placed.

And it proved costly as Coleraine went straight up the field and took the lead - David McDaid tried his luck from 25 yards and the ball sailed over Shanahan and dropped like a stone into the net.

Ballymena looked for an immediate response at the start of the second period and after Cushley had miskicked when well placed, Jenkins fired wide of the near post.

Coleraine had a great chance to double their lead on 51 minutes when Gareth Tommons’ cross was met with a scuffed clearance by Jim Ervin only as far as Eoin Bradley but the striker stabbed his first time effort wide from a good position.

But the Bannsiders went 2-0 ahead a minute later after Ruairi Harkin dispossessed Gary Thompson in midfield and advanced a couple of steps before rifling a shot into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

Shanahan produced a brilliant reflex save to keep out a McDaid shot and that proved vital as Ballymena halved the deficit on 61 minutes.

Cushley threaded a through ball for McLellan who rounded Ferry but the chance looked to have gone as the keeper got a touch on the ball to push it wide. However, McLellan kept going and steered home the loose ball from an acute angle through a ruck of Coleraine defenders on the goal-line.

As Ballymena pressed for an equaliser, Cushley dragged a shot wide, while Coleraine’s Gary Browne had a shot deflected behind off Jenkins.

Glenn Ferguson threw on rookie striker Mark Kelly and he was involved in Ballymena’s equaliser with three minutes left when he blocked a clearance into the path of Cushley who was bundled over by David Ogilby.

Referee Courtney pondered the incident for a second before pointing to the spot and Alan Teggart sent Ferry the wrong way to level the scores with three minutes left.

As both sides pressed for a late winner, Coleraine striker Gary Browne was sent off for dissent after protesting after Courtney had adjudged that Browne had not been fouled by Allan Jenkins in stoppage time.

Ballymena United: Shanahan, Ervin, Munster (sub Teggart 63), Stewart, McCullagh, McBride (sub Kelly 82), Kane, Thompson (sub Davidson 77), Jenkins, Cushley, McLellan. Subs (not used): Taylor, Surgenor.

Coleraine: Ferry, Beverland, McIlmoyle, Douglas, Ogilby, Lowry, Harkin, Tommons (sub McNeill 81), Browne, Bradley, McDaid. Subs (not used): Owens, Watt, Jennings, Shannon.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)

* See Tuesday’s Ballymena Times for match reaction.

Related topics: