Match Report
Larne 0-1 Ballymena United - 8 Feb 1997
A last gasp substitution by Ballymena earned them three points against Larne in their Division 1 game at Inver Park today. Ballymena brought Paul Muir on with three minutes to go and broke the deadlock. A poor clearance from Larne's 16 year old debutant goalkeeper Mills fell to Feehan, but instead of going it alone he elected to knock it through to Patton who was in an offside position. Ballymena had the bulk of the pressure but the final ball was sadly lacking. Ten minutes before the break a through ball from Bustard fell to Stewart. His shot beat Mills however Fullerton raced back to clear off the line. Stewart was again denied after 37 minutes, this time from a curling free kick which was tipped over by Mills. The Braid men were denied a penalty two minutes from half-time when Smyth pushed Knell to the ground but play was waved on. Beck, in the United goal, made his first real save of the game after 50 minutes blocking a McDowell shot after he got on the end of a McMahon cross. At the other end Patton sent in a low ball which just failed to get a touch from Feehan, the ball then found its way to Boyd on the edge of the box but his crisp drive was just inches wide. Fifteen minutes from time a short free kick from McMahon saw Patton's long range effort fly just over the bar. The same player again tried his luck from the edge of the box three minutes later yet again it was too high. Five minutes from time Ballymena's Patton raced through but with just the keeper to beat he hesitated allowing Fullerton and Mills to clear. With a minute remaining a through ball caused a mix up in the Larne defence, it fell to Paul Muir who had only been on the pitch for two minutes and he coolly slotted home.
Team: Mills, Fullerton, Mellon, Johnston, McKinstry, Hill, Looney, McDowell, Smyth, Patton, McMahon subs: Lowry, Regan, McConkey
Referee: Robert Penney (Carrickfergus)
Attendance: 268 (I counted them!!!!! - that's how bad a game it was!)
Hanks to Martin Harris who was there.
Larne lost 1-0 at home to Ballymena on Saturday in the League. It was yet another last minute goal that robbed Larne of the points. This was a very disapointing but evenly contested match in which neither side really deserved to win. The match was only notable for the fact that two more teenagers (both 16 years of age I think) made their debuts for Larne (Stephen Mills in goal and Eamonn Reagan in midfield).
Neal Simpson's report.