Ballymena got off to the worst possible start against Armagh City at the Showgrounds yesterday, conceding a goal after barely 6 minutes had elapsed. There were so many mistakes made by the United players for this goal, but mainly allowing Armagh too much space and what was keeper Paul Murphy doing so far off his goal-line, that he was so easily chipped by O’Connor. After this Armagh, luckily for United, went back into their shell and United carved out three or four good chances, two of which were missed by top goalscorer Kevin Kelbie. After 25 minutes a Picking free kick from the left was only partially cleared and when the ball was driven back in, Picking rushed in at the far post to bring the teams level with a close range header. The United fans cheers died in their throats as the linesman flagged for offside, but the referee over-ruled him and the goal stood. The Armagh players surrounded the referee, Ken Ginnett, but he was adamant and then flourished a red card to their goalscorer O’Connor, presumably for dissent. With Armagh down to ten men the home team battered the visiting defence, but were unable to create a good enough opening. United old boy, Shea Campbell picked up a booking for a high tackle on Darren Murphy and then United’s Kevin Kelbie was cautioned for a late tackle on the visiting right-back. Austen Friel missed a good opening for the home team, but halftime was reached with the score at 1-1.
United began the second-half by peppering the visitors goal, but kept missing with their final pass and the chances went begging. From a corner nodded goalwards by Albert Watson, his defensive partner Gordon Simms screwed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. After Kevin Kelbie, had been fouled in the box, ignored by the referee, he committed suicide by late tackling once more and the referee had little choice but to caution him and as it was his second booking he was subsequently sent off. With the teams equal there was always the danger that the visitors might sneak a second goal and that’s what eventually happened. In the 65th minute the United manager took off Darren Murphy and brought on Stuarty King. King almost instantly showed his forwards how to score, but his header from a Picking cross just flashed past the post. Then in the 75th minute, Gordon Simms, under no real pressure, completely miskicked and presented the ball to Armagh’s Slater and he raced through to fire his team into the lead. Five minutes later United drew level once more, when Picking got on the end of a Callaghan pass and fired United’s and his second goal of the game. Boydie was then substituted with Fitzy taking his place and soon after this Scatesy ballooned the ball wildly over the bar form close range. Then Friel somehow failed to get his head to a cross from King and Fitzy wanted too much time with the rebound and the ball was cleared. Five minutes from time, Scatesy was substituted, with Gary Haveron taking his place. Mark Picking almost stole the points at the end, when after a neat dribble, he tried for a spectacular shot rather than picking his spot and the ball flashed past the post. For the second week running the referee added on just a minute of stoppage time, despite Armagh’s blatant time-wasting tactics and the fact that five substitutions had been made in the second half. But United shouldn’t have needed stoppage time, as they’d had ample chances to wrap the points up and hadn’t taken them.
P. Murphy 5 Aid Watson 7 MoM: Picking
Callaghan 6 Friel 5
Boydie 6 Kelbie 5
Scatesy 5 D. Murphy 5
Simms 5 1st Sub: King 6 Referee: K. Ginnett 4
Alb Watson 6 2nd Sub: Fitzy 5
Picking 8 3rd Sub: Haveron 5
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