Shin pad saves Devlin from breaking leg

The game was held up for 15 minutes after Distillery's Andy Devlin was floored after a rash challenge by Nathan Hanley on 54 minutes which saw the United player get a red card.

Devlin was taken to Lagan Valley Hospital and later transferred to the Royal in Belfast. "It was a terrible tackle," said Whites' boss Tommy Wright. "At the time we feared the worst but the doctor said his shin pad saved him from a broken leg. He will be out for some time, but at least it is not as bad as we first thought."

The Whites had gone behind to a first half strike from Mark Surgenor. "It was a well taken goal by the Ballymena lad, but it was a poor clearance on our part," added Wright.

The Whites tried to play their way back into the game with Mark Patton getting into good positions and chances for Scott Davidson and Ferguson who saw his effort hit the woodwork.

In the second half the Devlin injury unsettled things and after the long delay it took the Whites some time to get back into it.

However, they never gave up and were finally rewarded when Ferguson smashed home the equaliser in the 95th minute.

"In the end it was a good point on what was a difficult night," said Wright. "Ballymena are a strong, physical side and we knew it was going to be tough."