Ten-man Town dumped out by senior visitors

Ballymena United 3

TEN-MAN Banbridge Town were dumped out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Saturday as a slow start led to a 3-0 defeat to Ballymena United.

Colin Malone’s men failed to start the game at Crystal Park and found themselves 2-0 down inside just five minutes. A disappointing day was compounded in the final minute when the otherwise solid Ricky Copeland was given his marching orders following a late tackle on tricky winger Maurice McDowell.

In truth the Town never really got much a hold on the first half at all but after Timmy Grant and Paul Walsh were introduced at the break, they managed to hold their Premiership opponents.

However, as much as the performance improved, it made little difference and Ballymena coasted through to the next round after their lightning start all but killed the game.

Rory Carson slammed an unstoppable shot into the top corner after just three minutes and former Glenavon man Eamon Murray doubled the lead after cutting past Mark Stewart and firing a deflected shot over Buchanan.

The Sky Blues continued to dominate the first half with the home side’s defence no match for the rampant Carson, Murray and Nathan Hanley. They were three up on 19 minutes as Murray’s right wing cross was taken down by Gary McCutcheon and slid neatly into the corner of the net by Aaron Stewart.

They could even have further stretched that advantage before the break but Eamon Murray’s shot was straight at Buchanan after the winger had ran from inside his own half. Rory Carson then fired a 20 yard volley just wide of goal whilst Gary McCutcheon failed to get his shot on target from Murray’s cross.

At the other end, Banbridge couldn’t force any real chances with an audacious 45 yard effort from Dale Malone the only one of note but it fell wide after catching Dwayne Nelson unawares in the Ballymena goal.

After the break, the Town began to have more of a say on the game as Stephen McCarroll looked like threatening the Sky Blues defence. The striker even looked set to get on the scoresheet two minutes into the half as a neat one-two with Paul Walsh set him free of the defence. Just as he looked set to reduce to deficit, the outstanding Michael Smith raced across to get in an unlikely block.

Timmy Grant then converted Mark Teggart’s through ball but his goal was immediately ruled out for offside, much to the home side’s frustration.

As the half went on, the senior opposition began to again take the upper hand but they failed to again find the net as Gary Haveron’s header was cleared off the line by Paul Walsh, Denver Gage headed wide and Albert Watson forced a fantastic save from Gareth Buchanan with another headed effort.

As the game drew to an otherwise quiet close, Ricky Copeland was shown a straight red card for his lunged tackle on McDowell in the final minute.

Malone was in acceptance of the result and says his side must get out of the starting blocks if this season is to be a success:

“We didn’t start. The Premiership team came out with all guns blazing and in 20 minutes the game was effectively over.

“We must start better.”

BANBRIDGE TOWN: Buchanan, Hall, Stewart, Copeland, King, McParland, Malone, McCartan (Walsh 46), McCarroll, Campbell (Grant 46), Teggart (McConnell 76)

BALLYMENA UNITED: Nelson, M. Smith, Gage, Haveron, Watson, Stewart, Carson (Carson 79), Hanley (Colligan 58), Surgenor, McCutcheon, Murray (McDowell 46)

UNUSED SUBS: Gibson, Dowie.