Following Darren Lockhart's dismissal last week against Dungannon Swifts, the only change to the starting line-up was the return of Philip Carson. There was also a place in the panel for IFA Youth Cup winning captain, Lee McCaughren for the first time.

The bumper crowd where on their feet with barely ten minutes on the clock as Nathan McConnell raced through on goal but drilled his shot into the side netting of Davy O'Hare's goal. Andy Smith also went close when he drilled a tame shot across the face of goal.

Ballymena's early pressure continued against their rivals and on 23 minutes the home side took the lead when after O'Hare had parried away Andy Smith's first effort - he stood no chance with the former Northern Ireland striker's perfectly executed bicycle kick for his third goal of the season.

Against the run of play though, the Bannsiders equalised with the half drawing to a close. Captain Jody Tolan's deft back-heel sent former Everton youngster Eunan O'Kane racing through and he fired a fierce left-footed drive past Dwayne Nelson to level the scores.

It took only a matter of minutes for the Sky Blues to regain their lead, as with a minute remaining in the half - Andy Smith's cross from the right flank was met by the unmarked Noel Anderson, who had the simple task of heading the ball past his former Coleraine team-mate, O'Hare.

Into the second half and the visitors came back into the came and after hitting the woodwork twice, they were awarded a penalty following Chris Ramsey's robust challenge on Kyle McVey. Leading marksman Rory Patterson converted the spot-kick via the underside of the crossbar for his fourth goal against Ballymena this season, following his spectacular hat-trick in August.

Much like in the first half the Braidmen struck back almost instantly; as some excellent build up play between Lee Colligan and substitute George Stewart

Picture: www.presseye.com

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	COLERAINE
1: NELSON, Dwayne	1: O'HARE, David
2: SMITH, Michael	2: BEVERLAND, Howard
3: COLLIGAN, Lee	4: HEGARTY, Michael
4: STEWART, Aaron	5: McVEY, Kyle
5: RAMSEY, Chris	6: McLAUGHLIN, Patrick
6: TAGGART, Gavin	7: BOYCE, Darren
7: CUSHLEY, David	8: PATTERSON, Rory
8: CARSON, Philip	9: TOLAN, Jody (c)
9: SMITH, Andy (c)	16: TOMMONS, Gareth
10: McCONNELL, Nathan	17: HARKIN, Gareth
11: ANDERSON, Noel	24: O'KANE, Eunan
Substitutes	-
12: SURGENOR, Mark	10: McCALLION, Tommy
Replaced David Cushley (83 mins)	Replaced Gareth Tommons (66 mins)
13: McCAUGHREN, Lee	14: WATT, John
Not Used	Not Used
14: McNEILL, Paul	15: MUKENDI, Mark
Not Used	Not Used
15: DEANS, Ryan	21: CANNING, Aaron
Not Used	Not Used
16: STEWART, George	22: DOOLEY, Stephen
Replaced Philip Carson (67 mins)	Replaced Michael Hegarty (66 mins)
Yellow Cards:	-
Unknown	Unknown
Red Cards:	-
None	None