Kofi Balmer seals derby joy for 10-man Ballymena United over Coleraine

The Sky Blues had to play the entire second half with 10 men after Joshua Kelly was dismissed following a challenge on Stewart Nixon in the closing stages of the first half.

By that stage David Jeffrey’s side had already taken the lead as defender Kofi Balmer headed home Stephen McCullough’s corner on 27 minutes.

It was a deserved lead for the visitors who had looked the most likely to break the deadlock in the opening exchanges.

Oran Kearney’s side ramped up the pressure in the second half as they went in search of an equaliser.

But they were left frustrated in the end as the Sky Blues dug in to pick up an opening day win.

The Bannsiders captain Stephen O’Donnell almost gifted the visitors the lead on 10 minutes as his attempted clearance from Stephen McCullough’s free-kick just cleared the bar.

At the other end, Ross Glendinning had to be alert as Balmer’s attempted clearance skewed off his foot.

New boy Shay McCartan was looking lively and he forced a great save out of Gareth Deane on 26 minutes.

From the resulting corner though the Sky Blues edged in front as Balmer rose highest to head home McCullough’s ball in.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage 10 minutes before the break as Ciaran Kelly glanced another McCullough corner wide of the far post.

As the game moved towards half-time Ballymena were reduced to 10 men as Joshua Kelly was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Stewart Nixon.

Coleraine were struggling to break down a resolute Ballymena defence even with a man advantage.

For all their possession at the start of the second half a James McLaughlin shot from distance was all Glendinning had to deal with as the game moved into the last half-hour.

Th striker then fired over from 12 yards after the Sky Blues keeper could only palm away Nixon’s driven cross from the left.

It was all Coleraine now as McLaughlin seized another opportuinty, going round Glendinning before crashing a shot off the post from an acute angle.

Josh Carson latched on to the rebound, but his powerful shot was magnificently blocked on the line by Trai Hume.

A long throw from Nixon caused problems in the Ballymena box, and the ball dropped to Lowry six yards out but the midfielder blazed over from close range.

Remarkably, it was the visitors who almost grabbed a second on 73 minutes as Ryan Waide showed great skill in the box, but he poked his shot wide in front of goal.

Substitute Jonny Addis was next to put his body on the line as he bravely blocked from Ian Parkhill.

Coleraine kept pushing for that equaliser but they struggled to carve out any real openings as the game moved into the dying minutes.

They had a late scare as Glendinning flapped at a corner in additional time but, once again, Lowry couldn’t keep his effort down and the ball sailed over the bar.