Donegal Celtic 0
Ballymena United 3 (AET)
County Antrim Shield (Round 1)

Match Report

BALLYMENA United had Mark Surgenor sent off and went a goal behind, before David Cushley scored a hat-trick to secure a place in the Quarter-Final stage of the Toals Co Antrim Shield.

The first-half was a fairly drab affair, with the home side proving stiff opposition and having the better of the chances, although they failed to convert any of them.

The second-half was much more entertaining and infuriating for the Sky Blues. Matthew Tipton replaced Alan Teggart shortly into the half, then Mark Surgenor was sent off in the 66th minute after a late challenge on Emmett Templeton.

Donegal Celtic took the game by the scruff of the neck and in the 72nd minute substitute Ryan Dunlop scored to leave the visitors on the brink of being dumped out of a competition they won only two years ago. Gary Thompson came on to replace Neal Gawley soon after, as manager Glenn Ferguson knew things had to change.

The last twenty minutes seen an increase in pressure from United, and in the 88th minute David Cushley latched on to a poorly cleared Tony Kane free kick and fired the ball into the corner of the net to take the game to extra-time.

A few minutes into the first 10-minute period of extra-time, Cushley sent the away fans into raptures, getting on the end of a pass from Darren Boyce and putting the Sky Blues a goal ahead.

A hat-trick was on the cards for the hero of the night, David
Cushley, as he converted a penalty kick after being brought down inside the box. Aaron Harris then came on to replace Cushley, allowing the striker to go off to applause from the visiting fans and his team mates.

The Braidmen certainly knew they'd been in a game, and will be glad to have progressed despite a fairly poor overall performance.

Match report written by Paul Irwin