Ballymena United 1, Cliftonville 3

Ten-man Ballymena United suffered a third straight Danske Bank Premiership defeat as they lost 3-1 to Cliftonville at a rain-lashed Showgrounds.
Ballymena's Mark Surgenor controls the ball under pressure from Cliftonville's Barry Johnston during tonight's Danske Bank Premiership match at the Showgrounds. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena's Mark Surgenor controls the ball under pressure from Cliftonville's Barry Johnston during tonight's Danske Bank Premiership match at the Showgrounds. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena's Mark Surgenor controls the ball under pressure from Cliftonville's Barry Johnston during tonight's Danske Bank Premiership match at the Showgrounds. Picture: Press Eye.

The Sky Blues had taken the lead through a bizarre own goal from Cliftonville goalkeeper Conor Devlin but the dismissal of defender Johnny Taylor early in the second half turned the gam in favour of the Reds, who move top of the table.

United boss Glenn Ferguson shuffled his pack after the weekend defeat in energy-sapping conditions at Portadown, with Johnny Taylor returning from suspension in the heart of the defence, while Stephen McBride, Tony Kane and Alan Davidson came into the starting line-up.

After a cagey opening, the first chance fell to Cliftonville after Martin Donnelly knocked the ball down into the path of Liam Boyce but the Northern Ireland international shot straight at Aaron Shanahan.

The visitors almost went ahead in freakish fashion on 18 minutes when David Munster’s back header almost went past Shanahan, who had advanced off his line to the edge of the penalty area but the keeper got enough of a touch to divert the ball behind.

As Cliftonville began to get on top Boyce had a looping header tipped over the bar by Shanahan and from the resultant corner, taken by Chris CUrran, the Dublin-based goalkeeper made a fantastic save to block Boyce’s point-blank header.

Shanahan continued his stubborn resistance as he advanced quickly off his line to thwart Gormley as the striker bore down on goal after beating the offside trap.

Ballymena slowly began to get into the game with Alan Teggart bursting into the penalty area and cutting onto the more favoured left foot, only to shoot tamely at Conor Devlin.

Then, after Alan Davidson surged into the area, neither he nor Mark Surgenor could find a way through the Reds defence.

After losing Liam Boyce to injury, CLiftonville spurned another opening as Johnny Taylor’s clearance ricocheted fortuitously into the path of Gormley but once again Shanahan was quickly off his line to twice block efforts from the Reds’ top goalscorer.

Ballymena looked dangerous on the break and attacking full-back Jim Ervin’s 25-yard shot was turned behind by Devlin.

But from the resultant corner, swung in on the breeze, Devlin misjudged Tony Kane’s delivery and could only punch the ball into his own net to put United ahead, a minute before half-time.

But the Reds were level a minute into stoppage time with an equally bizarre goal. Martin Donnelly sent in a free kick from the right flank and the ball glanced off the head of Mark Surgenor before nestling in the corner.

Ballymena were dealt a further blow within five minutes of the restart as they conceded a second goal and had Johnny Taylor sent off after referee adjudged that the United defender had brought down Gormley as the striker closed in on goal.

The decision enraged Ballymena’s players, who felt that the striker had been going away from goal in what looked a fairly innocuous tangle, but Gormley smashed the resultant penalty straight up the middle to fire the visitors in front.

With an extra man Cliftonville enjoyed a monopoly on possession but they rarely threatened United’s goal and the home side could have equalised with 15 minutes left when Darren Boyce’s header from Tony Kane’s right wing cross drifted agonisingly wide of the far post.

Straight away Cliftonville replied when Gormley outpaced Munster and cut the ball back for O’Carroll, whose shot was turned behind by Shanahan.

But the Reds clinched victory with nine minutes left when Martin Donnelly found the net with a shot from 16 yards - with keeper Shanahan’s anguished reaction suggesting that the shot may have deflected off Munster on its way in.

Ballymena United: Shanahan, Ervin, Munster (sub Lowry 84), Taylor, McBride, Surgenor, Kane, Thompson (sub McLellan 79), Teggart (sub McCullagh 52), Davidson, Boyce. Subs (not used): Taggart, Ruddy.

Cliftonville: Devlin, McMullan, Smyth, Scannell, Seydak, Curran (sub Caldwell 79), Johnston (sub Winshester 83), Catney, Donnelly, Gormley, Boyce (sub O’Carroll 34). Subs (not used): Murray, Doherty.

Referee: Colin Burns (Comber).