SKY BLUES HALT LOSING STREAK

Ballymena United halted their losing streak with a point against Cliftonville at Solitude.

David Jeffrey's side had been beaten in their last seven league outings but seemed in a determined mood to buck that trend with a bright opening, coming closest when Steven McCullough send over a free-kick to which both Jonny Addis and Adam Lecky but narrowly missed connecting with in front of goal.

Ballymena's efforts were rewarded after half-an-hour, though, when Leroy Millar opened the scoring with a drilled effort through Richard Brush's legs after Lecky had created the opportunity when Chris Curran lost possession.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead early in the second half when another McCullough ball was fractionally out of reach for Joe McCready as he rushed to make contact.

However, Cliftonville increasingly pushed for the equaliser as the game progressed with Ryan Curran testing Ross Glendinning before, on 67 minutes, Joe Gormley did find the net with an instinctive volley in off an upright from Chris Curran's right-sided cross.

Both sides had an opportunity to secure all three points in the closing moments of the game. 

A neat Cliftonville build up almost produced dividends when Conor McMenamin curling a shot toward goal which was met by an acrobatic stop from Glendinning while, at the other end, McCullough unleashed an effort to the left of Brush which the home keeper did well to turn behind to safety.

Cliftonville: Brush, McDermott, Breen, C. Curran, Foster, McCrudden, Doherty, Gormley, McMenamin, Donnelly, McCurry subs Dunne (not used), R. Curran (replaced McCurry 55), Wilson (not used), Casey (not used), Rocks (replaced Foster 61), McKiernan (replaced McCrudden 85), Spencer (not used)

Ballymena United: Ross Glendinning, T. Kane, Addis, Whiteside, Harpur, McCullough, McCready, Winchester, Lecky, Millar, Reece Glendinning subs Williamson (not used), Friel (not used), Knowles (replaced Harpur 62), K. Kane (not used), Andrew Burns (not used), Balmer (not used), Owens (not used)