McCall calls for more of the same

Both teams sized each other up in the early stages and it was Larne who came close on 10 minutes when McNally brought a brilliant save out of Martin in the visitor’s goal.

This was the only action in the first half hour in what was a stalemate with both defences cancelling each other out. A good move involving Paul Keane and McLernon resulted in a chance for McClelland to shoot just wide.

The match continued to be scrappy until Todd broke through the Ballymoney defence fifty fifty with the advancing Martin who did enough to put the striker of as he lobbed goalwards and as the home fans prepared to celebrate they could only look on in dismay as the ball bounced agonisely wide on the half hour.

The home team piled on the pressure as half time approached and good defending sheparded Todd wide of the goal.

Todd again caused the visitors problems but again OgBoyle was up to the task getting in a last ditch tackle wide for a corner.

As the Ballymoney tried to clear the corner the ball fell to Dick who let fly with a rasping drive bringing a spectacular save from Martin.

Half time Larne 0 Ballymoney United 0

Ballymoney got off to an ideal start when a good move down the Larne left saw McClelland cross to the back of the Larne area to Mark Gillan who wasted no time rifling a low shot wide of Brown in the home goal to give the visitors a one nil lead.

The Ballymoney defence were caught napping on the next attack and Larmour made no mistake to equalise for Larne.

The game again became a scrappy affair with neither team creating anything like a chance until the last 15 minutes when Larne came close with a Larmour drive well saved by Martin.

Ballymoney came close on 80 minutes when a McLernon corner was met by a powerful Gage header at the back post well saved by Brown.

With time running out McClelland came close with a drive blocked on the way to goal by Moore.

Ballymoney had a let off when Rafferty should have put Larne in the lead when he was clear and scuffed his to shot to give Martin an easy save.

This seemed to inspire Larne and Reid came close shooting across the face of the goal with Martin beaten.

Rafferty again found himself the goal at his mercy but again failed to beat Martin who brought of a great save.

The last action of the game fell to Ballymoney when a McLernon corner was volleyed at the front post over the bar and out of the ground.

Ballymoney United: Martin. Richie.OgBoyle. McQuitty. Denver Gage. McClelland. McLaughlin. Paul Keane. Gerard Gillan. Mark Gillan. McLernon. Subs: Nicholl. McKenna. Wilkinson.

Ballymoney United v Bangor Saturday 24 April Riada Stadium 3.00 pm kick off.

Club secretary Gerry McAleese said: “I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the club to wish Duane Scott a speedy recovery from his broken leg sustained in the Ballymoney United Reserves match on Saturday.”