United record fine victory at Ballyclare

The home side settled and kept the visitors at bay for most of the early period.

Ballymoney dominated play for a period and McLernon found Gerard Gillan on the edge of the box on 20mins Gillan controlled and squared the ball into the path of Nicholl who let fly with a rasping shot goalward bringing a great save out of Huxley with the goal at his mercy.

On a rare attack Comrades caught the visitors at the back post with a McWilliams cross volleyed across the face of the Ballymoney goal by McCullagh past Martin and wide.

On the half hour a great ball by McLernon into the path of Gerard Gillan in on goal, but for a timely interception by defender Long, touching the ball wide for a corner, Gillan would have scored.

From the ensuing corner Wilkinson again found space at the back post and headed across goal for Gerard Gillan to head goalwards, Huxley struggled to grab the ball and finally fumbled it round the post and clear.

As the Ballyclare defence tried to clear the danger the referee's attention was attracted by the linesman who adjudged that the ball had crossed the line and therefore a goal was awarded to the visitors.

With half time approaching Ballymoney's complacency nearly got them caught when McLernon lost possession in a crucial area letting in McClelland in one on one with Martin who advanced enough of his line to put the striker off and make a very crucial save at this stage of the game.

Half time Ballyclare 0 Ballymoney United 1

Ballyclare tried to up their performance early in the second half and the game turned into a scrappy war of attrition with goalmouth action almost non existent until a flurry late in the game.

The first chance of the half fell to Mark Gillan who brought a brilliant save out of Huxley in the home goal after a clever back heel inside the six yard box from Nicholl.

Ballymoney were happy at this stage to lie back and defend their lead soaking up everything Ballyclare could throw at them.

Ballyclare came close on 75mins when a McAvoy drive took a deflection and brought a brilliant save from Martin when a goal looked iminent.

This was just the wake up call Ballymoney needed in the closing stages of the game coming out to attack the home team taking the pressure of the defence.

Ballymoney came close from a McLernon corner to the front post well struck by Nicholl and this time it was Huxley in the home goal who made the save of the match to thwart the visitors.

The closing stages of the game ended up a bad tempered affair the home team taking out their frustration on McLernon for physical challenge resulting in McGowan being sent off for retaliation.

This resulted in six long added minutes with Ballymoney remaining composed to gain a well deserved victory on their bogey ground.

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