BALLYMENA United had to settle for a point from a 2-2 draw at Crusaders today in a game of two contrasting halves.

Most of the action - including all the goals and a missed penalty - happened inside the opening 45 minutes, while the second period failed miserably to reach those heights.

United boss Tommy Wright admitted he was disappointed that his side didn't turn their first half domination into three points.

"We could and probably should have been out of sight by the interval. Crusaders fought back in the second half but whatever chances they had were from long-range and Paul Murphy was able to deal with them," the manager added.

A frantic opening saw a goal for each side along with that missed spot kick.

Ballymena were first out of the blocks with a goal in the third minute. Kevin Kelbie charged down right-back Barry Reid's attempted clearance and the Scottish striker composed himself to lift the ball over advancing Crues keeper Neil Armstrong.

But within three minutes, the home side were level. As midfielder Stephen Shaw chased a loose ball into the left-hand channel, United keeper Paul Murphy raced from his goal to close down the angle. Shaw lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper and as it rolled goalwards, Gary Haveron's last-ditch slide to keep it out proved fruitless, with Barry Spence touching home just inches from the goal-line.

Spence was involved in the game's next major incident on 10 minutes when he was adjudged to have fouled Stuart King inside the penalty area as the winger ran away from goal.

Gary Haveron, who had been successful with United's previous two spot kicks, stepped up but his poorly-struck effort was kept out by the legs of Armstrong and when the ball was returned into the danger area, Haveron again could not force it home.

After that early flurry of excitement, the game went into a comparative lull for a time until Ballymena regained the lead on 24 minutes. Mark Picking delivered the visitors' first corner from the left and Lee Patrick arrived right on cue to power a header home from 12 yards.

But the goal of the game - and indeed a genuine contender for goal of the season - on 35 minutes ensured that the Crues went in level at the break.

There appeared to be little danger when Stephen McBride's outswinging free kick from the left was met with a firm clearing header by Haveron but the ball fell to Shaw 30 yards from goal who took a touch on his chest before firing an unstoppable volley past Murphy.

The better of the chances in a poor second half fell mostly to the home side, with Shaw releasing Anto Crawford but the striker miskicked with only Murphy to beat.

Then the United keeper produced two outstanding stops inside 60 seconds, to turn edge-of-the-box efforts from Crawford and David Rainey around the post for corners.

Yet United could have snatched all three points with 10 minutes left when when Armstrong failed to make a clean catch from King's cross and Patrick, leaning backwards, fired over the bar from 10 yards.

Crusaders: Armstrong, B. Reid, McBride, Spence (sub Campbell 33), Spiers, Coates, Munster, Shaw, Crawford, Rainey, Emerson (sub Larmour 71). Sub (not used): McAllister.

Ballymena United: Murphy, Callaghan, McClean, Scates, Watson, Haveron, Picking (sub Melaugh 75), Patrick, R. Reid (sub Friel 66), Kelbie, King. Sub (not used): McConaghie.

Referee: David Best (Carnmoney).

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