BALLYMENA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB || NORTHERN IRELAND

Date: Saturday, 31st December, 2011; Competition: Carling IFA Premiership 23; Attendance: 646

BALLYMENA UNITED	[1]	2
DONEGAL CELTIC	[1]	2

Venue: Ballymena Showgrounds (Ballymena); Kick-Off: 3.00pm; Referee: Hugh Carvill

Goals:

[0-1] McALORUM, Stephen (17 mins);
[1-1] MUNSTER, David (45+1 mins);
[2-1] STEWART, Aaron (59 mins);
[2-2] McVEIGH, Paul (65 mins)

INCOMING Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson watched his new side settle for a point at home to Donegal Celtic this afternoon.

Ferguson officially takes charge after the game but was unveiled in a post-match press conference and introduced to the fans at the break.

Stephen McAlorum edged Celtic in front on 17 minutes with a powerful back post header from a Johnny Harkness free-kick on the right flank.

But with Rory Carson and Conor Downey threatening with half chances it seemed only a matter of time before United crafted an equaliser.

It duly arrived in first half stoppage time through skipper Davy Munster who got his head to a corner to direct the ball beyond Robert Robinson.

And the Sky Blues moved in front on 59 minutes. Aaron Stewart carried the ball out of defence, laid it off to Gary McCutcheon on the halfway line but continued with his surge forward to collect the ball closer to goal and coolly turn it past Robinson.

However, DC grabbed their second on 65 minutes when, from a right-sided corner, Paul McVeigh headed past Wayne Drummond at the near post.

Report from the Official Carling IFA Premiership website (www.ifapremiership.com)

Teams:

Ballymena United: Wayne Drummond, Tony Kane, Richard Vauls, Aaron Stewart, Gavin Taggart, Gary McCutcheon, Rory Carson, Alan Teggart, Jordan Baker (sub James Costello 82), Conor Downey (sub Neil Lowry 37), David Munster. Subs (not used): Curtis Woods, Eoin Gillan, Chris Rodgers.

Donegal Celtic: Robert Robinson, Kevin Keegan, Johnny Harkness, Paul Bradley, Stephen McAlorum, Ryan Henderson, Liam Bradley, Eamon McAllister, Paul McVeigh, Mark Burns, Kieran O'Connor (sub Darren Murray 77). Subs (not used): Declan O'Hara, Darren McNamee, Johnny Gowdy, Ciaran Murray.