Wayne
climaxes Whites comeback
LISBURN DISTILLERY dented Ballymena United's hopes of either of
Setanta Cup or European football next season with their first
home win since December.
Whites
captain Wayne Buchanan netted the winner, his first goal of the
season as the Whites came back from trailing 1-0.
The
visitors, stiff breeze behind them, had all the early possession,
but it was the Whites who had the ball in the net on nine minutes.
United
keeper William McFrederick and striker Darren Armour rose to meet
Gareth McKeown's near post throw in; they tangled, Armour glanced
the ball home but referee Adrian McCourt adjudged that the keeper
had been fouled.
On
11 minutes a defence-splitting ball from Kevin Kelvie saw Vincent
Sweeney run into the box but he screwed his e shot wide.
After
John Martin had fired over for the home side from a similar distance
on 24 minutes, United took the lead.
Rory
Hamill crossed, Kelvie, edge of the box, took one touch before sending
a superb drive beyond Phill Matthews into the far corner - it was
a class finish from the Scot.
The Whites drew level in injury time, Paul Muir powered in a header
from a corner, McFrederick did well to save the effort but the ball
went up before dropping on the line, a scramble ensued but Muir
was in there to blast the ball home.
Three minutes into the second half the game swung to the Whites;
Buchanan rose at the back post to head Andrew Dickson's corner back
a cross the goalmouth and in.
United
might have pulled one back in 50 minutes; Stuart King's cross dropped
on the edge of the box but Gary Haveron, coming in amongst a mass
of players couldn't get enough power on his shot.
Matthews
was then injured following a challenge from Sweeney, the United
midfielder receiving a yellow card before he parried Gareth Scates'
drive on 64 minutes.
Two minutes from time United had the ball in the net but, similar
to the first half, referee McCourt ruled it out for an infringement.
It
was a decision that incensed United boss Tommy Wright and he was
dismissed from the side lines for his protest.
In
injury time Albert Watson might have equalised but his header flashed
wide and the Whites had the points in the bag.
LISBURN DISTILLERY: Matthews, McKeown, Ferguson, McCann,
Buchanan, Muir, Kilmartin, Murphy, Dickson, Martin, Armour. Subs:
Hagan, Johnston, Catney.
BALLYMENA
UNITED: McFrederick, Donaghy, Boyd, Haveron, Albert Watson,
Smyth, Scates, Hamill, Sweeney, Kelvie, King. Subs: Rowe, Simms,
Aidan Watson.
Referee:
Adrian McCourt (Bangor).
|
