Home is where heartache is for United

BALLYMENA United's final home game of the season ended in the same outcome as the majority of the others – in defeat.

A 2-1 reverse at the hands of Lisburn Distillery was United's 10th home loss in 19 Premiership games and could yet have financial repercussions in terms of lost prize money if the Sky Blues continue to slip down the table.

This defeat, coupled with Distillery and Newry both gaining wins, could ultimately see Ballymena finish a pitiful 11th if they don't secure a positive result in Saturday's final game at Glenavon.

"It's not the way we wanted to sign off at home," said United boss Roy Walker.

"We missed too many chances and if you're not taking those chances you can see the writing on the wall and you have to keep the back door shut. We were too porous.

"If we can't win games then we shouldn't be losing them – it was the same at Newry in midweek.

"We just don't do enough. We lack quality in the right areas," added Walker.

Distillery, safe from the drop after Institute's failure to win on Friday night, started with a spring in their step and scored on seven minutes after a half-hearted clearance by Chris Ramsey was seized upon for Gary Browne to rifle a shot into the roof of Dwayne Nelson's net from just inside the penalty area.

Ballymena worked their way back into the game and were rewarded on 29 minutes when Michael Smith's cross from the right was mis-controlled by initial target Kevin Kelbie but fell beautifully for Noel Anderson to sweep home an equaliser.

Ballymena had chances to go ahead – Pat McShane clearing two headed efforts off the line from United corners among others – but they were made to pay for their profligacy with nine minutes left.

You could have driven a bus through the centre of the United rearguard as Peter McCann threaded through a pass for Browne to apply a neat finish.

Ballymena United: D Nelson, Ramsey, Stewart, Haveron, Albert Watson, Aidan Watson (sub Muir 46), Smith, Taggart, McConnell (sub Nelson 78), Kelbie, Anderson (sub McLaughlin 53). Subs (not used): McVeigh, Kenny.

Lisburn Distillery: Matthews, Callaghan (sub Cooling 55), McShane, S Thompson, Muir, McCann, Kilmartin (sub Melaugh 85), G Thompson, Browne, Ferguson, Gawley (sub Friel 54). Subs (not used): Patton, McAlinden.

Referee: Keith Halliday (Bangor).