Stalemate at the Showgrounds

Showgrounds stalemate between Ballymena United and Linfield

By Aaron O’Neill

In difficult conditions at the Ballymena Showgrounds it was the home side that started the brighter. The first chance fell to Matthew Shevlin as he latched onto a loose ball before blazing wide.

United had further chances in the opening exchanges as Jonathan McMurray did well to find Kevin Branniff in space inside the box but the forward failed to find his footing.

Linfield struggled to deal with the windy conditions early in the game but they did grab the advantage after 10 minutes.

January signing Kurtis Byrne showed great vision to find the feet of Mark Stafford and the defender made no mistake in firing home from 6 yards.

Ballymena levelled on the quarter hour mark as Branniff and McMurray combined. Some neat play between the pair released McMurray whose strike seemed to take a deflection en-route to goal.

Linfield responded immediately and looked to have regained the lead as Mark Haughey’s goal bound header was cleared off the line by Stephen McAlorum.

Moments later Kirk Millar spurned a great chance for the visitors - much to the dismay of the travelling support.

The Sky Blues looked to have went in front after 35 minutes as McMurray got on the end of Stephen McCullough’s cross but the lively forward flashed his effort over the crossbar.

Linfield made it 2-1 just before half-time as Stafford climbed highest to flick on Kirk Millar’s corner allowing Andy Waterworth to tap home at the back-post.

Ballymena boss David Jeffrey would have been feeling disappointed to be behind at the interval as his side dominated large periods of the first-half.

David Healy’s side could have been further ahead on 50 minutes. Kirk Millar’s searching cross found the run of Jordan Stewart but the winger’s effort trickled wide of the post.

United appealed for a penalty in the second-half as Branniff went down inside the area but referee Steven Gregg adjudged no foul.

Willy Faulkner looked to have levelled proceedings on the hour mark as his looping effort was cleared off the line by Jimmy Callacher.

Linfield were reduced to 10 men on 65 inutes as Mark Haughey picke up his second booking after a foul on Cathair Friel.

Ballymena United levelled on 75 minutes as second-half subsituteJoe McKinney rifled the ball past a helpless Roy Carroll from 18 yards.

Ballymena United were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes to go as McMurray was upended inside the area. Up stepped Kevin Branniff but the striker blazed the spot-kick over the crossbar.

With little to report in the closing minutes it ended honours even at the Ballymena Showgrounds. The result means Linfield remain fifth in the Danske Bank Premiership – two points adrift of Ciftonville, While Ballymena round off the top six.

BALLYMENA United: Glendinning, Kane (McKinney ‘73), Owens, McAlorum, Braniff, Faulkner (Friel ‘62), Shevlin, Balmer, Ervin, McCullough, McMurray

SUBS: Friars, McCloskey, McCaffrey,

LINFIELD FC: Carroll, Stafford, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth, Stewart (Lowry ‘71), Millar, Byrne (Robinson ‘67), Mulgrew, Mitchell, Quinn

SUBS: Rooney, Garrett, Adam