BALLYMENA United suffered their first defeat in six meetings at the hands of 'derby' rivals Coleraine when they lost 3-2 at the Warden Street Showgrounds.

United recovered from a two-goal first half deficit to level matters with a quarter of an hour left only to allow the visitors to instantly regain the advantage and the Bannsiders held on to claim victory in a pulsating encounter.

United manager Tommy Wright was stunned at how the Sky Blues were brushed aside in the opening stages by their fired-up rivals.

"We made a really poor start to the game and were made to pay for it," said Wright.

"We did extremely well to come back into it and then fell for a sucker-punch straight away."

The opening minutes offered a hint of the excitement that lay in store with Gary Haveron forcing a save from Davy O'Hare at a free kick, while at the other end, Paul Murphy produced an amazing reflex save to prevent full-back Craig McClean's miscued clearance from ending up in his own net.

From there, however, Coleraine took total control and Murphy produced another fine save from Damien Whitehead before Ryan McLaughlin volleyed the rebound wide.

But United's respite was short-lived as the visitors moved in front on 10 minutes. When a corner wasn't cleared, Stephen Carson played the ball into the feet of David Patton and the big striker flicked the ball across goal where Whitehead bundled the ball home under pressure from Darren Murphy.

It got worse for the home side four minutes later as Coleraine doubled their advantage following a rapid counter-attack. McLaughlin brought the ball out of defence and fed it to Patton just over the halfway line. The striker's first-time through ball didn't appear to carry much threat but Ballymena captain Albert Watson missed a routine clearance and the ball carried on into the path of Whitehead who came back inside onto his favoured right foot and curled a measured effort past Murphy.

Ballymena's abject first half showing was illustrated five minutes before the break when Lee Patrick burst through from midfield, taking Darren Fitzgerald's through ball on his chest but as he lined up a left-footed shot, he lost his balance and took an air shot as he ended up on the ground.

Ballymena's response came inside the opening 15 minutes of the second period as Mark Picking collected the ball near the right hand side of the area and surged into the penalty box before firing home a cross-shot through a ruck of players.

Then substitute Stuart King sent a wonderful cross onto the head of Kevin Kelbie, whose header was blocked by the imposing figure of the out-rushing O'Hare.

Ballymena had more success, however, from King's next delivery. The winger's outswinging corner was met by a brilliant header from Fitzgerald which O'Hare superbly tipped onto the underside of the bar but Patrick followed up to head home at the second attempt after his initial effort had hit the post.

The whole mood of the Showgrounds had changed entirely but almost as quickly, it was the visiting fans who were celebrating once again. Virtually from the restart, Tommy McCallion surged forward before spotting the unmarked Carson to his left and he rolled the ball into the path of the winger who coolly stroked it beyond Murphy.

Ballymena introduced Austin Friel into the attack late on but although he cleverly slipped a pass into the path of Fitzgerald, the striker's effort was turned around the post by O'Hare as United failed in their attempts to force an equaliser.

Ballymena United: P Murphy, Callaghan, McClean, Scates (sub Aidan Watson 76), Albert Watson, Haveron, Picking, Patrick, Fitzgerald, Kelbie (sub Friel 76), D Murphy (sub King 46).

Coleraine: O'Hare, McLaughlin, Beatty, Gaston, McVey, Whitehead (sub Boyce 84), Neill, Anderson, Patton, McCallion, Carson (sub Cassidy 88). Sub (not used): Heneghan.

Referee: David Malcolm (Bangor).