Ballymena United 1
Carrick Rangers 1
League (NIFL Premiership)

Match Report

Ballymena United endured a largely frustrating evening at the Showgrounds as they drew 1-1 with Carrick Rangers on Tuesday evening.

Returning home for just the second time this season, there were two changes to the United side that narrowly lost out to Coleraine on Friday night. Kodi Lyons-Foster came in for a first start to replace Scot Whiteside, while Igor Rutkowski took the place of Success Edogun.

The first half was mostly a half to forget on Warden Street, with the hosts perhaps fortunate to get into the break level. That said, it was the Braidmen who had the first effort of the game five minutes in, but Rutkowski's drive from distance was held by Nathan Gartside at the second attempt.

Fifteen minutes in, Carrick had their first chance of note and it set the wheels in motion for a flurry of activity in the Ballymena box. Nedas Maciulaitis went close when he looped a cross goalwards that went inches wide, before Kyle Cherry scuppered not one, but two huge chances inside the box, as well as Danny Gibson heading wide a massive chance and Joe Crowe nodding a corner straight at David Walsh.

As United found a little bit of rhythm closer to half time, James Hood curled a strike over from outside the box, swiftly followed by a rasping first time hit from Finley Thorndike from well out that seared just by Gartside's left post, as a first half that was hard work ended scoreless.

A double change at the break from Oran Kearney was perhaps an indication of the first half struggles, as Edogun and Sean Murray replaced Josh Archer and Thorndike.

Within a few seconds of the restart, United's outlook had dramatically improved as Rutkowski broke the deadlock in the blink of an eye. With Carrick looking to be routinely passing the ball at the back, Jimmy Callacher's ball that was intended for partner Kym Nelson beside him ended up nowhere near its target, allowing Igor Rutkowski to pounce and finish past Gartside.

Unfortunately for the Sky Blues, that lead didn't even last ten minutes, as the visitors levelled thanks to Aidan Steele. Gibson's inviting cross from the right found Steele somehow free in the six yard box, but he still had a bit to do to flick a header home to the far post.

What followed the Carrick equaliser was another period of not very much in terms of openings and after Michael Leetch had come on for Hood, United were forced into a change when Edogun's night lasted only twenty minutes, as injury forced him off and Caoimhin McConnell took his place.

With eighteen minutes to go, Ballymena became a man to the good as Nelson was sent off on his Showgrounds return. The defender received a straight red for a robust challenge on Leetch, with the youngster thankfully back on his feet relatively quickly.

Ultimately Ballymena failed to make the extra man count, but as they dominated the late proceedings, a number of chances passed them by. Chris McKee struck well wide two minutes after the red, before diverting a header to the same fate from a corner moments later. Then, as five minutes of added time approached and were entered, McKee again went agonisingly close when he diverted a Rutkowski ball wide. He would threaten again, firing straight at Gartside following a swift counter, before a low, drilled strike from Murray was helped back towards goal by the boot of Rutkowski, but he too could only find Gartside's gloves.

1-1 it finished in another frustrating night at the office for Ballymena United, whose wait goes on for a second league win of the season.

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