GOALKEEPER Aaron Kerr has joined Ballymena on an emergency one month loan from Crusaders.

After first-choice goalkeeper Sean O'Neill's sending off on Saturday, coupled with an injury to recent signing Dwayne Nelson; manager Roy Walker sought quickly to bring in an experienced custodian for the midweek clash against Glentoran at the Oval.

Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter recommended his Reserve team goalkeeper Aaron Kerr - who is no stranger to the Showgrounds.

Kerr was born in Carrickfergus but moved to Scotland for eight years before returning in his early teens to live in Ballymena where he attended Cambridge House. Kerr signed for Ballymena United in 1999 but never made a fist team appearance for the Sky Blues.

After leaving school the talented young keeper moved to England with Wolverhampton Wanderers but failed to make an impact in the Football League after a sucession of injuries after spells with Rotherham United, Havant & Waterlooville, Walsall and Gravesend & Norfleet.

He returned back to the Irish League in January 2008 and played in the League Cup final for the Crues shortly after his arrival but a sucession injuries has seen him lose the number one jersey to Chris Keenan at Seaview.

The 26-year-old has signed a one month deal at Warden Street as goalkeeper O'Neill is likely to miss a number of games through suspension and International duty with the Northern Ireland Under-21's.

* Meanwhile in other transfer news Mark Picking, who has made a one-month loan move to Ards, made his debut for the County Down side in their Steel & Sons Cup victory over Bangor Amateurs. William Grattan has also gone out on loan to Ballyclare Comrades, whilst former Dundela defender Kyle Alexander who was on trial during pre-season has joined the Sky Blues.