Initially manager Roy Walker had been due to select the same team which was victorious over Crusaders at the weekend but winger David Cushley was forced to withdraw during the warm-up when he took an asthma attack, meaning that Ormon Okunaiya took a suprise starting berth.

It was Okunaiya who created the first chance for United as they took a direct approach to Alan McDonald's side in the pouring rain. Andy Smith played in the tricky winger down the left flank and he flashed a cross-come-shot across the face of goal.

With the Sky Blues taking an early control of the match, Nathan McConnell was next to go close when a superb ball from Andy Smith sliced open the Glentoran defence allowing McConnell through, only to hit a tame left-footed effort at stand-in Glentoran goalkeeper James Taylor.

The big striker made amends on 32 minutes however; after some excellent build-up play from McConnell and the two Smiths allowed the former Lisburn Distillery striker to curl a stunning left-foot shot into the top corner, giving Taylor no chance and sending the home support into raptures.

Glentoran's reply was almost instant with their best chance of the half - former Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie hitting a dipping half-volley which sailed just wide of Dwayne Nelson's far post.

On the hour mark, the Braidmen were given a great chance to double their lead when Colin Nixon hauled down Ormon Okunaiya in the penalty area. However, Andy Smith's poorly struck penalty was at a comfortable height for Taylor who saved the penalty - the second that the former Glentoran striker has missed this season.

It looked like the penalty miss may have proved costly for United as at the other end Gary Hamilton's goalbound header was somehow clawed away by Dwayne Nelson but in one swift counter-attack United doubled their lead. Aaron Stewart released Michael Smith down the right and he squared a sublime ball across to the unmarked McConnell who side-stepped Taylor to knock home into an empty net.

What looked like a consolation goal for Glentoran on 83 minutes, turned out to be the start of the fightback when Gary Hamilton's effort from a Kyle Neill free-kick came off the post and was gleefully tapped in from close range by substitute Andy Waterworth.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, Andy Smith missed another glorious chance to finish the game off, when he was sent clean through but failed to trouble Taylor with the goal at his mercy.

It proved costly one minute into stoppage time when Glentoran threw everything forward at the United goal and managed an equaliser when Kyle Neill's deep cross was met by Glentoran captain Colin Nixon.

Nixon, who lives in Ballymena, broke United hearts with virtually the last kick of the ball when he unbelievably drilled a low drive past Dwayne Nelson to give his side a memorable win and seal an amazing comeback.

Roy Walker told the press; "The game should have been over – 4-0 wouldn't have flattered us but then we lost the art of basic defending.

"I thought we completely outplayed them for 85 and they resorted to just humping the ball into the box and ended up with three goals.

"I thought objectively we played the best football, our first goal was a joy to behold, the second goal was great on the break but the other finishing was just poor. It's like a bad dream.

"But we'll lift the players because we'll look at the good things we did. We won't focus on the bad things for long but we'll learn from them. Our team showed tonight we can play football but it was disappointing that we allowed Glentoran to come on to us.

"As gutted as I feel now, I'm going to have to look at that game objectively and say the best team lost it and Glentoran I'm sure will admit that," added Roy.

Picture: www.presseye.com | Videos: Andy Nelson (Sky Blue TV)

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	GLENTORAN
1: NELSON, Dwayne	18: TAYLOR, James
2: SMITH, Michael	2: NIXON, Colin (c)
3: COLLIGAN, Lee	3: NEILL, Kyle
4: STEWART, Aaron	7: WARD, Sean
5: RAMSEY, Chris	9: HALLIDAY, Michael
6: SURGENOR, Mark	10: HAMILTON, Gary
7: OKUNIAYA, Ormon	14: FITZGERALD, Dean
8: ANDERSON, Noel	22: CALLACHER, Jimmy
9: SMITH, Andy (c)	24: HILL, Jason
10: McCONNELL, Nathan	25: McGOVERN, Jamie
11: LOCKHART, Darren	33: GILLESPIE, Keith
Substitutes	-
12: TAGGART, Gavin	4: CLARKE, Richard
Replaced Nathan McConnell (74 mins)	Replaced Dean Fitzgerald (76 mins)
14: CARSON, Philip	8: FORDYCE, Daryl
Not Used	Replaced Keith Gillespie (73 mins)
15: McNEILL, Paul	11: WATERWORTH, Andrew
Not Used	Replaced Michael Halliday (62 mins)
16: STEWART, George	13: GIBBONS, Darren
Not Used	Not Used
20: O'NEILL, Sean	16: BLACK, Johnny
Not Used	Not Used
Yellow Cards:	-
Unknown	Unknown
Red Cards:	-
None	None