Friel marks perfect ton as Braidmen ease through

BALLYMENA United cruised into the semi-finals of the Toals County Antrim Shield with a routine win over near neighbours Ballyclare.

Three first-half goals ensured a comfortable passage for David Jeffrey’s Braidmen in a competition in which they were beaten finalists last season.

Ballymena, with Ghanaian striker Basit Umar making his debut, started sharply and Andy McGrory forced Comrades keeper Paddy Flood to spring across his goal to turn a free-kick behind.

But, as reprieves go, it was short-lived as the Sky Blues opened the scoring with less than two minutes on the clock.

Leroy Millar was the architect with a strong run down the right flank and his cross was missed by a defender before falling to Ryan Mayse, who beat Flood with an angled shot.

Ballymena suffered a blow when Mayse was forced off with an injury following a robust challenge by Samuel McIlveen, but the Premiership side doubled their advantage on 21 minutes.

It came from the penalty spot after Jason Johnston inadvertently clipped Millar’s heels and the same player picked himself up to tuck away the spot-kick.

It should have been 3-0 five minutes later when Umar collected a loose ball deep inside the Ballyclare half and his pace took him past a couple of defenders but, as Flood advanced from his goal, the African striker rolled his effort inches wide.

Ballyclare almost halved the deficit a minute later when Jamie Willigahn’s well-struck shot was palmed away by Ross Glendinning and the keeper reacted quickly to also block his follow-up effort.

The width of the woodwork separated Ballymena from a third goal on 36 minutes as Willie Faulkner’s measured effort came back off the crossbar with Flood beaten.

But the Sky Blues did add a third in first-half injury-time when Cathair Friel — who replaced the injured Mayse — collected the ball and earned himself a yard of space before curling a superb shot beyond Flood, as the striker celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in style.

In a low-key second half, Friel should have doubled his tally on the hour mark when he collected Kofi Balmer’s through ball with a brilliant first touch but then clipped his shot beyond the post.

Ro Glendinning, Re Glendinning (Kane, 83 mins), Whiteside, Balmer, Addis, McCullough, McGrory, Millar, Faulkner, Mayse (Friel, 17 mins), Umar (Nolan, 57 mins). Ervin, Lecky.

Flood, Kirk (McQuitty, 51 mins), Youle, Wright, Crane, Gault, Johnston, McIlveen, Robinson (Tully, 61 mins), Willighan, Donnelly (Dobbin, 67 mins).

Trussell, Brown. Evan Boyce (Ballygowan)

Leroy Millar

BALLYMENA UTD:

Subs not used: BALLYCLARE COMRADES: Subs not used: Referee:

Man of the match:

(Ballymena) Big moment: Cathair Friel hails his goal on 100th appearance