Battling United lose to Linfield
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Ross Black, back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, turned in a five-star showing against Linfield at the weekend.
Ballymena United 1 Linfield 2
Glenn Ferguson's first match in charge of Ballymena United ended in defeat against his former club Linfield.
But United fought hard throughout - giving the new manager food for thought as he prepares for Saturday's Irish Cup clash with Lisburn Distillery at Ballyskeagh.
“The result was disappointing, but I was given a bit of a lift after seeing the attitude of my players. It give me something to work on. They are a good bunch of lads. We did not play as much football as I would like, but we were up against Linfield, the best side in the country. I was happy with our performance, but not the result," he said.
David Jeffrey, manager of Linfield, said it was all about the result.
“I am really pleased, it was an excellent result," he said.
Meanwhile, in Saturday's Premier League clash at Ballymena Showgrounds Linfield were first to show and only a solid block by defender Davy Munster stopped striker Mark McAllister getting a shot on target from close range.
But two minutes later United gifted the Blues the opener, sloppy defending letting McAllister in to slip the ball to Peter Thompson who touched home.
‘Keeper Wayne Drummond darted way out of goal and then got caught in no-man's land.
Thompson knows he will not score an easier goal this season, the ball trickling into the net.
With a quarter-of-an-hour gone Aaron Burns had a shot well saved by Drummond.
Ballymena equalised in the 18th minute, captain Allan Jenkins drilling in a beauty after a neat head on from Gary McCutcheon.
It was Drummond who set the move in motion, booting the ball upfield. Jordan Baker glanced the ball on for McCutcheon, who nodded it into the path of fellow Scot Jenkins, whose left-foot finish left Stuart Addis well beaten.
Linfield's Aaron Burns glanced a header well wide and at the other end Tony Kane powered a free-kick wide past the target.
Ballymena went behind again three minutes into the second half - another very scrappy goal conceded.
McAllister poked in a shot which was deflected off the boot of Munster and crept in at the base of the post.
In the 78th minute Ross Black, back in the United side for the first time since September due to injury, put in a brilliant block tackle inside the box to deny McAllister a certain goal.
In injury time Jenkins had one last chance to get United something from the game, but his shot sailed well wide.
Ballymena United - Drummond, Kane, Black, Stewart, McCutcheon, Jenkins, Carson (Costello, 75th), Teggart (Davidson, 60th), Surgenor (Taggart, 82nd), Baker, Munster.
Subs not used - Lowry, Rodgers
Linfield - Addis, Murphy, Thompson, BJ Burns, A Burns, Patterson (Lowry, 70th), Garrett, Ervin, Watson, McAllister, Casement (Gault, 51st).
Subs not used - Douglas, Curran, Carvill.
Referee - Mr. Raymond Hetherington (Dungannon).
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