Ballymena United 0
Bangor 0
League (NIFL Premiership - Section B)

Match Report

Ballymena United and Bangor played out a goalless draw at the Showgrounds on Wednesday evening in their re-arranged Premiership meeting.

With United's all but secure top flight status rubber stamped thanks to Saturday's win at Carrick Rangers, Oran Kearney made six changes for the visit of Bangor. Amongst them, Declan Breen made his third league start in goal, while there was a debut on the right hand side of the backline for seventeen-year-old Adam Sullivan.

After a fast start at the weekend, the Braidmen had the chance to make another one four days later when they were awarded a penalty inside five minutes. Igor Rutkowski was brought down in the box by Mark Haughey after picking up the pieces when Success Edogun was denied by Gareth Deane, but the striker couldn't keep his impressive record from the spot going, when his penalty was saved by Deane.

From there, the remainder of the first half was one largely dominated by the visitors, certainly in terms of chances. On nine minutes, Bangor should've been ahead when Reece Neale slid in at the back post to seemingly send the ball into an empty goal, but somehow he could only find the post. Further chances came and went for the likes of Harry Lynch and Michael Morgan, before Jay Boyd was slipped in on goal when a through ball cut United open, but he was denied by a top stop from Breen when one on one.

Just after the half hour, the home side almost went ahead when Rutkowski fired a ball across the six yard box, where a couple of sky blue shirts were occupying, including Sullivan, but Bangor were able to make first contact and the ball made its way into the grateful arms of Deane.

Late in the half, Boyd had another effort, his fourth of the first half, but could only head over, as a half with plenty of attacking threat and a missed penalty, somehow ended scoreless.

Oran Kearney began the second half by making a couple of alterations, as Sean Murray and Donal Rocks made way for Aaron Jarvis and Kian Corbally.

The second half proved to have less about it in the boxes compared to the first, but the first real chance again fell the Seasiders' way, as Breen was forced to bat a long range hit from Morgan round his post.

Another change came on fifty-eight minutes, as Jack O'Reilly replaced young Sullivan, after a solid debut showing and inside four minutes, O'Reilly was involved as Bangor were reduced to ten men. Oisin Devlin, who had been booked in the first half for a foul on Murray, hacked the winger down near the halfway line, leaving referee Jamie Robinson no choice but to brandish a red card.

Following the Devlin sending off, United certainly took control of events, but much like Saturday, they failed to truly stamp their authority with the extra man. O'Reilly brought some directness, but could only fire well wide after bursting forward and cutting in, before Edogun headed over and a sweet hit from David Toure called Deane into a good save.

A lengthy stoppage due to a nasty looking injury for Bangor teen Alfie Mitchell took a bit of sting out of the game entering the final fifteen minutes, even though another fierce effort, this time from Jarvis, again brought out a smart save from Deane to tip wide of his goal.

A second teenage debut for United came five minutes from time, as James Hood was replaced by Thomas Duffin. In the final minutes, a torrential downpour made its presence felt, with United turning a corner over in a crowded box the only real late chance, as the sides settled for a point apiece, with Ballymena's unbeaten run stretched to six games.

Match report written by Philip McPeake (www.ballymenaunitedfc.com)