United beaten on penalties in Charity Shield

The Sky Blues lost 4-2 in the shootout after the tie finished scoreless after 90 minutes.

United manager Glenn Ferguson handed a debut to summer signing Matthew Tipton, while United’s other new recruit, defender Kyle McVey, started on the bench.

Goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson also returned to the United starting line-up after being absent since December following cruciate knee ligament surgery.

Cliftonville almost cut Ballymena open early on with an intricate move involving Ryan Catney, Joe Gormley and George McMullan but defender Mark McCullagh was on hand to clear the danger.

At the other end, David Cushley’s low cross was stabbed just wide of the near post at full stretch by the in-rushing Tipton.

Cliftonville again went close on 12 minutes when United’s Neal Gawley gave away possession inside his own half. Marty Donnelly slipped in Joe Gormley whose low shot was deflected off the leg of Nelson and as the ball spun towards goal, McCullagh was on hand to hook clear.

Gormley had another sight of goal on 19 minutes when he latched onto a Jude Winchester pass but he took the shot early and could only scuff his effort wide of the post.

United fashioned another opening on 25 minutes after a neat one-two between Cushley and Tipton but last season’s top scorer dragged his shot wide when well placed.

United survived another scare when Johnny Taylor left his back-pass well short of Nelson, allowing Gormley to skip past the keeper but from an acute angle he could only screw his shot wide of the near post.

Ballymena came closest to taking the lead on 42 minutes when Neal Gawley’s well-struck free kick came back off the angle of post and crossbar, with Allan Jenkins steering the rebound wide.

After the restart, Gormley showed good feet to outwit McVey on the edge of the penalty area but his shot was straight at Nelson and then the ace striker saw his shot deflected behind for a corner after a strong run by Marty Donnelly.

Ballymena responded as a Jenkins through ball found Tipton in acres of space but as he burst clear, he could only shoot straight at Reds keeper Conor Devlin.

Devlin was again involved on the hour mark when Johnny Taylor’s flicked header from a Gawley free kick was saved by the keeper, while from another Gawley cross, Cushley headed just wide as Ballymena enjoyed a spell of pressure.

With the option of using five subs available to both managers, Glenn Ferguson gave some second half game time to Gavin Taggart and Michael Ruddy, as well as Gary Thompson and Tony Kane, both of whom will be suspended for United’s Danske Bank Premiership opener at home to Warrenpoint Town next Saturday.

Cliftonville came mightily close to opening the scoring when Marc Smyth’s ball saw Gormley beat the offside trap and his fierce strike rattled back off the post.

Ballymena went straight up the other end and Jenkins’ ball released Mark McCullagh but the full-back blazed wildly over when well placed.

Ballymena came close in the closing stages when Tipton’s diving header from Tony Kane’s cross was saved by Devlin, while at the other end, Jay Donnelly’s run ended with him curling a shot just wide.

In stoppage time, James Knowles curled a free kick inches wide as the match finished scoreless and went to penalties.

In the shootout, Devlin kept out spot kicks from David Cushley and Tony Kane, while Matthew Tipton and Michael Ruddy converted their kicks.

Cliftonville: Devlin, Cosgrove, McGovern (sub Smyth 74), Flynn, McMullan, Winchester (sub McGrandles 86), Johnston (sub Knowles 74), Catney, M Donnelly (sub Caldwell 74), Murray (sub J Donnelly 58), Gormley.

Ballymena United: Nelson, McCullagh, Taylor, Stewart (sub McVey 28), McBride (sub Ruddy 73), Gawley (sub Kane 68), Davidson (sub Taggart 66), Jenkins, Teggart Sub Thompson 66), Cushley, Tipton.

Referee: Andrew Davey (Bangor)