The Sky Blues arguably had the guts of the possesison in this drab encounter, and were unlucky not to come away with all three points.

Johnny Flynn returned to the starting line-up in place of the injured Simon Kelly, the West Belfast teenager had just returned from a two-week long trial with English Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers.

Stephen Lowry looked lively in the early proceedings, causing the visiting defenders headaches as he jinxed his way forward in every attack. However the end product was lacking from the Limavady midfielder.

It was nearly the half-hour before a clear-cut chance was created as the lively Mark McAllister tried his luck from long range but seen his attempt well held by Paul Murphy.

Kevin Kelbie had a good chance as he headed well over from a Craig McClean cross late in the half.

With the first period drawing to a close Garth Scates wasted a free-kick in a dangerous position - firing well over.

Scates again had a good chance early in the second half, when Lowry threaded him through, but he missed the target.

The most controversial moment of the half, if not the game, was when Dungannon captain Johnny Montgomery seemingly hauled down Kelbie in the penalty area.

Despite being the last man; Montgomery escaped even a caution, and United had to deal with the indignity of being awarded an indirect free-kick on the edge of Dwayne Nelson's penalty box.

Randal Reid replaced leading goalscorer, Davitt Walsh, and had a glorious chance to seal the game when his touch let him down badly with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The Swifts through everything forward in the last ten minutes, and Harry Fay's side also will feel agrieved at not being awarded a penalty late on.

However, it finished scoreless. Manager Tommy Wright, was pleased to continue his unbeaten run.

"I thought after the first five minutes we were excellent, passed it really well, created all the chances and I think their first real chance came in the final 10 minutes," he said.

"Against a very good side, to dominate almost from start to finish we're pleased in one way, but in another we're disappointed we didn't get the three points and we should have done.

"I thought we played extremely well, conditions were difficult, and didn't get that rub of the green around the area.

"But from where we were four weeks ago, we'll take 10 points from 12."

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	DUNGNANON SWIFTS
1: MURPHY, Paul	1: NELSON, Dwayne
2: CALLAGHAN, Aaron	3: GALLAGHER, JP
3: McCLEAN, Craig	4: MONTGOMERY, Johnny
4: HAVERON, Gary	6: CURRAN, John
5: WATSON, Albert (c)	8: McAREE, Rodney
6: FLYNN, Johnny	9: CAMPBELL, Shea
7: LOWRY, Stephen	10: McCLUSKEY, Ryan
8: SCATES, Garth	12: McMINN, Adam
10: KELBIE, Kevin	16: McALLISTER, Mark
11: MELAUGH, Gavin	18: McGINN, Niall
17: WALSH, Davitt	25: HEGARTY, Michael
Substitutes	-
9: REID, Randal	11: MAGINNES, Mark
Replaced Davitt Walsh (79 mins)	Replaced Shea Campbell (79 mins)
12: BAIRD, Gary	17: McCONKEY, Mark
Not Used	Not Used
14: PATRICK, Lee	19: McMANUS, Dwayne
Not Used	Not Used
15: CUSHLEY, David	24: WELLS, David
Not Used	Not Used
16: WRAY, Thomas	27: WARDELL, ...
Not Used	Not Used
Yellow Cards:	-
FLYNN, Johnny (82 mins)	HEGARTY, Michael (18 mins)
WATSON, Albert (88 mins)	McALLISTER, Mark (90+3 mins)
Red Cards:	-
None	None