Ballymena edge it in the battle of the Blues at the Showgrounds

From Joshua Bunting at the Ballymena Showgrounds

Ballymena United claimed a 2-1 victory over Linfield in a thrilling Danske Bank Premiership game on Friday night that saw two stunning strikes from Conor McCloskey and Jonathan McMurray to give them a vital three points.

They now go seventh while Linfield remain in fourth - 11 points behind leaders Coleraine.

The away side took the lead on five minutes thanks to Robert Garret as he fired low into the net after neat link up play from David Healy’s side.

It was the Champions who were very much on top and could have doubled their advantage on eight minutes as Stephen Lowry saw his effort hit the crossbar from outside the box before former Linfield captain Jim Ervin cleared the danger.

Linfield took the lead on five minutes thanks to Robert Garret as he fired low into the net after neat link up play from David Healy’s side.

William Faulkner had the Sky Blues first chance as his low free-kick was well cleared by Mark Haughey at the near post on 20 minutes as David Jeffery’s side settled down from their early nerves.

Gareth Deane in the visitor’s goal nearly had a moment to forget as he spilled Faulkner’s low free-kick from 25 yards out behind for a corner, from the resulting set piece McCloskey got on the end of It before heading just over the crossbar.

Linfield came close once again on 31 minutes as Jordan Stewart danced his way into the box before his low effort across the face of goal was well held by Ross Glendinning as Andrew Waterworth was lurking to pounce on the loose ball.

Healy’s side were enjoying most of the possession in midfield and if it wasn’t for Glenndinning they would have been two ahead as Garrett joy a low effort from 30 yards out that was tipped behind by the cat like reactions of the Sky Blues stopper.

Kofi Balmer then came to the rescue for the home side who are currently eighth in the table as he made a fine last-ditch challenge to deny Andrew Waterworth getting in on goal to surely score after he won the ball of Andrew Burns as the first half drew to a close.

However, in injury time at the end of the half Deane was forced into action as he sprung to his left to keep out Cathair Freils header after Faulkner whipped in a dangerous freekick.

Glenndinning was called into action straight away in the second half as he linked up with Kirk Miller but his effort across goal was once again well held by the keeper.

Ballymena levelled the tie on 53 minutes as McCloskey scored a spectacular freekick from 30 yards out the ball sailing into the net out of the reach of the despairing dive of Deane.

That goal sparked Jeffery’s side into life as Freil was played in but he curled his effort just over the crossbar.

Louis Rooney then came close to restoring Linfield’s lead on 59 minutes as he fired a low strike just wide of the target after weaving his way around the United defence into the box.

Ballymena then were to turn the game on its head as they took the lead on 61 minutes as McMurray fired a sensational volley over Deane's head from 25 yards out into the net to the delight of the home crowd.

In a fantastic end to end game Healy’s side were nearly back on terms on 65 minutes as Stewart wriggled away from the tackles before he fired his effort just wide of the target from just outside the box.

It was the former Glentoran winger who had yet another chance for Linfield as he met Kirk Miller’s cross perfectly at the back post before he blazed his effort over from 12 yards when he should have hit the target.

Linfield should have been level on 72 minutes as Matthew Clarke latched onto a Miller cross, but he could only direct his header straight into the arms of Glendinning from point blank range.

Glendinning then was alert once again on 77 minutes as he made yet another fine save to keep out Mark Stafford as he got onto the end of an Aaron Burns corner, but the keeper was equal to his effort.

After 82 minutes Linfield created yet another good opening as Waterworth scuffed his shot wide at the back post after a low cross from the right by Burns when he really should have scored.

However more drama was to follow as Garrett was sent off for a second yellow on 87 minutes after a clumsy challenge.

Aaron Burns had the final chance of the game as in injury time he whipped in a dangerous freekick but Glendinning was off his line well to punch the ball away from danger.

Teams

Ballymena

Glendinning, Flynn, Thompson, Friel,McCloskey,Faulkner,Burns,Balmer,Ervin,Millar,McMurray.

Linfield

Deane,Stafford,Haughey,Waterworth,Lowry,Stewart,Millar,Clarke,Casement,Rooney,Garrett.

• Ballymena
• Linfield