Ballymena United were denied a famous win thanks to a late, late Linfield equaliser in an enthralling 2-2 in tonight’s Sports Direct Premiership game at the Showgrounds.
Heading into the game as huge favourites it was no surprise when Matthew Fitzpatrick scored his ninth goal of the season early-on, but United, who were impressive on the counter-attack all evening, scored a breakaway goal soon after.
Just as the game looked finish one-apiece up stepped Patrick McEleney to score a decisive penalty, but there was still time for a Kyle McClean equaliser on the final whistle.
In bitterly cold conditions on Warden Street, both sides did their best to warm up the crowd with plenty of intent early-on, but it was the Blues who opened the scoring after only 12 minutes.
Duncan Idehen’s poor pass was latched onto by Fitzpatrick, who took a touch before he slid the ball beyond the Sean O’Neill in goal and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
Just 10-minutes later and the Blues’ had the chance to double their lead. Defender Ben Hall rising highest to crash a header off the United crossbar and away to safety as keeper O’Neill breathed a sigh of relief.
However, as David Healy’s side threatened once more just moments later, Ballymena were back on level terms thanks to some devastating counter-attacking.
Andrew Scott made ground down the left before playing the ball on to Kian Corbally, who toed the ball into the path of Rocks on the right side of the box, and he manages to shoot beyond David Walsh in the Linfield goal to the delight of the home support.
As the game ebbed and flowed Ballymena should have then taken the lead on the half-hour mark, but Daniel Lafferty somehow managed to head over from point-blank range.
Into the second period and the south Belfast side started the brighter.
Chris McKee’s left-footed strike from inside the area took a deflection and went behind for a corner. Soon after Euan East cut inside smartly on the left side of the box, but his curling effort was well saved by O’Neill, low down to his left.
On 83 minutes, with both sides chasing the winner, Sam Roscoe thought he had won it with a bullet header from eight-yards out from a corner, but somehow O’Neill got a superb fingertip on the ball to push it onto the crossbar and away to safety.
Just as the game was slipping away, there was drama in the first and final minutes of stoppage time.
McKee brought down Scott inside the area and up stepped former Derry City man McEleney to send Walsh the wrong way to score his first goal for the club. But the Sky Blues would be denied a surprise win when the ball broke to McClean inside the area - on 100 minutes - and he hit the ball high into the net to salvage a point.
Ballymena United: O’Neill (capt), Lafferty, Rocks, Scott, O’Donnell, Edogun, Loughran, McEleney, Corbally, Barr, Idehen.
Subs: Johnston, Jarvis, Moore, McMullan, McCurry, McMurray, Hawe.
Linfield: Walsh, Roscoe, East, Hall, Orr, McClean (capt), Ballantyne, McGee, McKee, Offord, Fitzpatrick.
Subs: Johns, Allen, Archer, Mulgrew, McCullough, Annett, Morrision.