TWO early goals were the killer for Ballymena United Reserves as they fell to defeat to Donegal Celtic Reserves at Suffolk Road.

Donegal Celtic caught United napping after just ten seconds when their midfielder ran straight from the kick off to score past Dwayne Nelson.

In the 10th minute Celtic put in a hopeful cross which looped over Nelson to make the score 2-0.

United upped the tempo and were unlucky when Costello out muscled the centre-back to score only for the referee to disallow it for a handball.

United were on top now and Carson put a superb ball into the box but no one got on the end of it. Eoin Gillan came on for the second half and was unlucky not to score after a good free kick by Tony Kane.

Gillan got to the rebound but the keeper saved well. Murray was also unlucky on the 65th minute when Caollan Gillan cut the ball back across the six yard box only for the Donegal Celtic keeper to save at the feet of Murray.

Ballymena should have had a penalty on the 78th minute when Caolan Gillan got taken out by the Celtic defender only for the referee to book him for diving. United put up a good fight against a very experienced DC side and never gave up in terrible windy conditions.

Ballymena United Reserves: Dwayne Nelson, Tony Kane, Mark Surgenor, David Reid, Daniel Agnew, Eamonn Murray, Rory Carson, Caolan Gillan, Gavin Taggart (sub John Rimmer 55), Colin Moore (sub Eoin Gillan 46), James Costello. Subs (not used): Neil Lowry, Michael O'Mullan.

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