Seconds complete pre-season preparations with defeat

Having won comfortably in both encounters last season Ballymena were looking for a comfortable win. Antrim took charge from the start, Ballymena struggled to keep up with their opponents fast passing off and when Ballymena did have the ball, they were unable to find a way through to the Antrim goal. Antrim scored early on past young Ballymena keeper, Ben Monteith, and added a second soon after before the home side had any chance to regroup. It took Ballymena’s experienced players to get them back on track. A brilliant pass in midfield from Wilf Montgomery and skilful play by Phil Moody around the Antrim defender, allowed William Barr a one on one opportunity with the goalie. Barr hammered the ball into the bottom corner giving the Antrim keeper no chance. Ballymena had a chance to go 2-2 going into the end of the first half when Phil Nicholl slotted the ball into the back of the net from a short corner, but it was disallowed by the umpire. Antrim then went on to score again before a massive rain shower put the game temporarily on hold. Ballymena seemed to come out refreshed and began to apply the pressure, helped greatly by strong defending from Andrew Crooks and Alister Hanna. Ballymena pulled it back to 3-2 when Nicholl saw Moody creep in behind the Antrim defence, leaving another one on one with the away keeper allowing Moody to hammer the ball bottom corner. The Braidmen then equalized when Moody set the ball up for Mark Lightbody to add his name to the scoresheet. It was Ballymena however, who grew tired and Antrim went on to score three goals in quick succession to end the game 6-3. Ballymena will have a lot to improve on before they take on Instonians this weekend in the league. The seconds narrowly missed out on promotion last year and are hungry to go one step further this season. Seconds: Ben Monteith, Alister Hanna, Matthew O’Neill, Ethan Archer, Andrew Crooks, William Barr, Chris Shaw, Wilf Montgomery, Mark Lightbody, Phil Nicholl, Phil Moody, George Arran.