Walker disappointed at 'derby' defeat

The Sky Blues picked a bad day to turn in a below-par display as David Scullion's 70th minute header settled a poor 'derby' fixture at Ballycastle Road.

Ballymena's performance wasn't bad but it simply lacked the spark and impetus which has been the hallmark of the most recent chapter of Walker's work in progress at the Showgrounds.

And no-one was more disappointed than the manager himself as he reflected: "We didn't play well – that was the most galling thing from our point of view.

"It's difficult to say whether the exertions of midweek played a part but it's a local derby and you should be up for that.

"It's not that we weren't up for it but we just didn't seem to get started and I was pleased to get in at half-time with no score.

"Genuinely I thought for 25 minutes after half-time that we were the better team and looking like we were going to score but we were caught on the hop.

"But we didn't deal with a fairly routine ball down the middle and I don't know if there was communication or miscommunication or no communication between Denver and Dwayne but they allowed the ball to drop.

"It should have been dealt with, wasn't, crossed in, goal."

Ballymena had lived on their nerves somewhat and would have been behind shortly after half-time when former midfielder Stephen Lowry smacked a gilt-edged chance off the underside of the crossbar with the goal gaping.

But the decisive blow was struck with 20 minutes left after some initial hesitation between goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson and defender Denver Gage in dealing with a long bouncing ball. The initial danger looked to have been averted but former Ballymena striker Brown kept the move alive on the bye-line and stood up a superb cross to the back post for Scullion to nod home from close-range.

Ballymena did have good spells in the game – and had two of the better performers in Michael Smith and Eamonn Murray, who dovetailed beautifully on the right hand – but the was a distinct lack of a killer pass and they didn't trouble Davy O'Hare anywhere near often enough.

"There was a bit of noise in the dressing room and it wasn't just all complimentary, let's say that, but that's football for you – you have to take the down days with the up ones.

"That's the biggest disappointment because you know within a group of people there's more and they don't give what they can, then you have to look at yourself and your players.

"I thought the two boys up front didn't hold it up well enough – I thought too much came back off them too cheaply and they were disappointed with that.

"Eamonn Murray and Michael Smith were a threat all day and Nathan Hanley got in two or three times at the start of the second half and should have done better maybe from where he was. We got into good positions but didn't do enough with the football.

"It wasn't a disaster in terms of the performance but it wasn't as good as we can do," added Roy.

Coleraine: O'Hare, Canning, McVey, Beverland, Watt, Lowry (sub Boyce 86), Hegarty, Harkin, Carson, Scullion (sub Ogilby 90), Brown. Subs (not used): Harkness, Black, Donnell.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Smith, Watson, Gage, Stewart (sub Colligan 86), Murray, Taggart, Hanley, McDowell (sub Haveron 46), McCutcheon, Gibson. Subs (not used): Berry Surgenor, Young.

Referee: Alan Black (Antrim).