Rathfriland3–3Ballymena United

Ballymena United edged themselves into the second round of the BetMcLean League Cup after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win, following a 3-3 draw AET, over third tier Rathfriland Rangers at Iveagh Park on Tuesday night.

Jim Ervin hinted at changes from the weekend's side that won at Portadown and there were ten in all, with Donal Rocks the sole survivor, as Caolan Loughran and Mikey Place were amongst those returning to the squad, while Jack O'Mahony made his debut in Sky Blue.

It was a historic night for Rathfriland as the side sitting tenth in the Premier Intermediate League welcoming top flight opposition to Iveagh Park for the first time and the Co. Down side made the most of the occasion as they started well. On sixteen minutes, that good start for The Whites turned into a goal as they took a shock lead over the Braidmen. The hosts broke through the middle and when the ball came to Ruari Fitzpatrick he had acres of space to get a shot away from the edge of the box and duly fired home into the bottom corner.

It was very nearly 2-0 two minutes later but for a super save from Sam Johnston, with the new look Sky Blues struggling to get going and even when they finally got themselves into the tie, they did little to work the Rathfriland 'keeper. A couple of sighters from distance went well over from Noah Stewart and Oisin Devlin, before Loughran headed narrowly wide from a Place corner.

On thirty-seven minutes Rangers, who were more than putting it up to United, had huge penalties appeals waved away after a trip in the box, with Ballymena perhaps fortunate nothing came of it. At the other end, with the visitors threatening a little, certainly more than they had been, Joe Moore cut in and in before firing just wide, before Alex Gawne turned over a knocked down free kick, as a below par United went into the break behind.

Josh Carson replaced Donal Rocks at half time and his effect was felt almost straight away as he provided Ballymena's leveller eight minutes in. Carson's corner was hung up in the box and met by Stephen O'Donnell who headed into the corner to ease any concerns slightly.

A minute beyond the hour mark, John Herron replaced Place to make his debut and two minutes later he played his part in Ballymena turning the game around. Another set piece delivery from Carson found Herron at the back post who hooked the ball across goal, where Noah Stewart was waiting to tap home.

Following Stewart's goal, United had chances to extend their lead quickly as Stewart again headed wide, before the same man went through on goal but opted to square for Carson instead of shooting, but he, and then Gawne, missed their opportunities.

If Ballymena had hoped their quick turnaround and further chances would've broken the Intermediate side's spirit, there was none of that and on seventy minutes it was 2-2. It wasn't great all round from Ballymena as Herron lost the ball in a dangerous place and when the pass went to Ruari Fitzpatrick he saw his first shot parried by Johnston, with neither him or Carson able to get to the rebound as Fitzpatrick scored his second.

The final fifteen minutes had a real extra time is coming feel to them with little happening. Moore flashed a shot just wide and in added time, as Ballymena looked to spare their blushes, sub Ethan Devine headed straight at Ronan Burns to take it to extra time.

Jim Ervin read a bit of a riot act to his players ahead of extra time, with Ballymena well off it at times in normal time, but the manager's words seemed to work as the away side went back in front on ninety-three minutes. Another set piece from the reliable boot of Carson was knocked across goal and when Rathfriland couldn't clear, Ethan Devine was there to squeeze a header past the defender on the post.

Once again, if those who'd made the lengthy trip down the country thought Ballymena could now see the game out, it wasn't to be as they struggled to press home their advantage and not long after a triple change saw youngster Luke Hawe, Colin Coates, for the first time this season, and Kym Nelson introduced, a handball from Nelson gave the Whites a penalty right on extra time half time. Captain Andrew Kilmartin stepped up and calmly sent Johnston the wrong way for 3-3 in a topsy-turvy tie.

The second half of extra time was almost disastrous for Ballymena from the off as not even a minute in Johnston was called into action to make two huge saves in quick succession. The home side probably looked most likely now to win without needing penalties and after Carson called a good save out of Burns, Rathfriland could've, possibly should've, won it two minutes from the end. Johnston got himself into all sorts of trouble trying to catch the ball just inside his box and after he fumbled it twice it allowed a Rathfriland man in to surely score, but Johnston made up for his errors to get across and make a stunning save to deny a certain goal as Ballymena were taken to penalties.

Rathfriland took first in the shootout, looking to cause an almighty upset, but as Devine and Herron helped make it 2-2, a miss from the hosts gave Ballymena the advantage. Every penalty after was successful, including Carson and Nelson's for Ballymena, and that allowed Loughran the chance to squeeze Ballymena through. He did just that, emphatically finishing down the middle, to see United survive an almighty scare against a more than impressive Rathfriland team and whilst it wasn't pretty, it was enough, to put Ballymena in the round two draw.