United all at sea against Bangor

IT would be fair to say that Ballymena United were not at their best when they were defeated 1-0 by Bangor on Saturday afternoon.

Following the postponement of last weekend's game with Glentoran thanks to Storm Boelo, it had been eleven days since United's last outing in the League Cup against Newington.

And there were no fewer than six changes from that late win - however Stephen Fallon remained for a first league start and Chris McKee returned to the bench from injury.

The weather proved to be kind on Halloween afternoon at the Showgrounds, but the first half proved to be a bit of a nightmare for the Sky Blues.

Nevertheless, United went close three minutes in, with a spell of play that rather summed the half up, when Bangor's Lewis Harrison and his goalkeeper Patrick Solis Grogan got in an untidy mix up in their own six yard box, almost allowing James Hood to jab the ball home.

There were a couple of headed efforts from Kodi Lyons-Foster during the rest of the opening forty-five, one which sailed over and the other which was unorthodoxly saved by Grogan, but beyond that it was the bottom placed visitors doing the probing.

Ben Arthurs had done well to advance down the left and cross for Iestyn Hughes in Bangor's first good chance, but Hughes could only head wide.

Reece Neale would go on to blaze an effort over for the Seasiders, before two good openings in the final five minutes of the half.

First, Tiarnan Mulvenna rose highest to meet a free kick and head it wide by millimetres, before Arthurs pulled a top stop from David Walsh as he tipped over another header.

Success Edogun replaced Hood at the break as United tried to find some sort of fireworks, but the second half didn't start much better and eight minutes in, Bangor edged into the lead.

A clipped ball forward was headed on by Arthurs and then knocked back into his path by Mulvenna and from the edge of the box, Arthurs unleashed a wonderful outside of the boot strike high into United's net.

The opener was swiftly followed by two further Ballymena changes, with Josh Archer and Chris McKee brought on, but as United dominated the remaining half hour or so, they lacked the quality to put the ball in the net.

McKee had a glorious chance to level twenty minutes from time when Charlie Allen headed a ball across the box and Igor Rutkowski teed up McKee and whilst he probably should have scored, Grogan pulled off a stunning one handed save.

McKee had another chance, sending a free kick straight at Grogan, before Arthurs almost added second as he got in when United were short at the back, but Walsh made another big save.

In the final ten minutes, Rutkowski sent Edogun in for another great chance, only for his lifted shot to be deflected over and soon after sub Sean Murray smashed over a half volley. In five minutes of added time, a final, golden chance came and went when McKee arrived at the back stick to meet a cross with a free header, but he could only divert it wide.

A frustrating day at the office for United who struggled to ever gain any momentum on a hugely disappointing day.

United have a free midweek ahead now before attempting to regain momentum in Portadown next Saturday.

GOALS: 0-1 (Arthurs, 53).

BOOKINGS: Lyons-Foster (28) ; Toure (75).

SUBS: OFF- Hood, ON- Edogun (46) ; OFF- Fallon, ON- Archer (57) ; OFF- Whiteside, ON- McKee (57) ; OFF- Lyons-Foster, ON- Murray (73).