Ballymena United

4

Coleraine

3

SKY BLUES SECURE DERBY WIN FOLLOWING SEVEN GOAL SHOWGROUNDS THRILLER

26th Dec 2014

Matthew Tipton grabbed the winner in the closing minutes to hand Ballymena United a Boxing Day victory over Coleraine in this Showgrounds thriller.

The Bannsiders moved in front after 14 minutes through Gary Browne from an acute angle at the back post after an Aaron Canning shot had deflected into his path.

However, United got back on level terms nine minutes later after Darren Boyce connected with a Neal Gawley corner to send a looping header past Michael Doherty.

Coleraine moved back in front after half-an-hour when Ian Parkhill dived to send a header beyond Stuart Addis from a cross from the left.

But the Sky Blues levelled for a second time on 55 minutes after Tipton met Boyce's cross to push the ball over the line.

And they seized the advantage eight minutes after that when Doherty fumbled the ball at the feet of Allan Jenkins who gleefully knocked the ball home from barely two yards out.

The lead last only a quarter-of-an-hour, however, after David Ogilby grabbed Coleraine's third with a volleyed finish 12 minutes from time following a scramble in the box.

Remarkably, United moved back in front once more with seven minutes left after Tipton headed home at the back post from another Gawley corner.

Ballymena United: Addis, T. Kane, McCullagh, Munster, McBride, Gawley, Surgenor, Jenkins, Teggart, Boyce, Tipton subs Ruddy (replaced Teggart 90+2), Ferguson (not used), E. Kane (replaced Boyce 83), Graham (not used), McCaul (replaced Gawley 75)

Coleraine: Doherty, Douglas, Ogilby, McCafferty, Browne, McGinty, Canning, Mullan, Parkhill, McNeill, Kane subs Hegarty (replaced McCafferty 64), Watt (not used), Moore (not used), Miskimmin (replaced Parkhill 75), Lyons (replaced Browne 88)

Referee: Colin Burns

Attendance: 2522

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