Roy Walker changed his starting eleven for the visit of his previous employers; giving a full debut to George Stewart and bringing both Albert Watson and Darren Lockhart back into the side.

United looked lively as they created the first opportunity early on when Andy Smith hit the visitors on the break-away, threaded a great ball through to George Stewart who couldn't convert the chance after colliding with goalkeeper Chris Keenan.

Kevin Kelbie had another great chance for the Sky Blues as he raced clear from his own half but hit a tame effort straight at Keenan.

A resolute United defence, inspired by the return of Albert Watson, where restraining the North Belfast side to a series of long range efforts; however on 19 minutes a superb effort from David Rainey from just outside the area put the Crues in front, as he turned Surgenor before curling an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

The Braidmen were level on 36 minutes when Philip Carson's free-kick from the left corner was met with a powerful header from Albert Watson on his return to the side.

Ballymena came close just minutes later when Mark Surgenor flashed a header just wide from a corner, but the game was to turn on it's head on 43 minutes when the home side were reduced to 10 players.

Following a scuffle between Philip Carson and Eamon Doherty in the United penalty area - United goalkeeper unexplicibly came rushing off his line and pushed the Crusaders midfielder to the ground. Referee Raymond Crangle had no option to send off the Northern Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper and with no substitute 'keeper on the bench, central defender Mark Surgenor took the gloves for the remainder of the game.

Ballymena continued to attack with confidence but were dealt another blow when midfielder Aidan Watson became the second Ballymena player to be shown red after picking up his second booking of the game after a needless challenge on Ryan McCann.

The nine-men showed tremendous spirit and determination to stay in the game and despite some solid goalkeeping from Surgenor - United were undone in the 66th minute when Marty Donnelly's dangerous cross was headed home by captain Colin Coates at the near post.

Roy Walker's men nearly snatched a late equaliser but Andy Smith's downward header lacked any real power to beat Keenan as the Sky Blues remain without a point after four league games.

Walker said; "There is a consequence to people's actions and a hefty fine will ensue because I feel both of those instances were huge turning points in the game."

Picture: www.presseye.com

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	CRUSADERS
1: O'NEILL, Sean	1: KEENAN, Chris
2: SMITH, Michael	2: McKEOWN, Gareth
3: COLLIGAN, Lee	3: McBRIDE, Stephen
4: SURGENOR, Mark	5: MAGOWAN, David
5: WATSON, Albert	6: COATES, Colin (c)
6: WATSON, Aidan	7: McCANN, Ryan
7: STEWART, George	8: DOHERTY, Eamon
8: CARSON, Philip	10: RAINEY, David
9: SMITH, Andy	11: DONNELLY, Martin
10: KELBIE, Kevin (c)	12: MORROW, Chris
11: LOCKHART, Darren	16: ARTHURS, Ross
Substitutes	-
12: McCONNELL, Nathan	14: MELLY, Dominic
Not Used	Replaced Chris Morrow (46 mins)
13: STEWART, Aaron	15: CADDELL, Declan
Replaced Kevin Kelbie (67 mins)	Replaced Eamon Doherty (46 mins)
14: CUSHLEY, David	18: EMERSON, Alain
Replaced Darren Lockhart (74 mins)	Not Used
15: ANDERSON, Noel	16: McMASTER, David
Replaced George Stewart (55 mins)	Replaced Ross Arthurs (76 mins)
16: TAGGART, Gavin	24: MURRAY, Chris
Not Used	Not Used
Yellow Cards:	-
Unknown	Unknown
Red Cards:	-
O'NEILL, Sean (43 mins)	None
WATSON, Aidan (51 mins)