Ballynahinch United travelled to St Columbanus College to face Bangor Swifts.
It was a slow start from the away side who were sloppy in possession, although Robbie Lurring came close to breaking the deadlock.
However, it was Bangor who opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime when a loose pass and lapse in concentration from United’s backline gifted the home side a goalscoring opportunity which they duly took.
After going behind, United finally picked up the tempo but couldn’t find an equaliser before half-time.
After the break, Ballynahinch looked the better team, controlling possession whilst rarely threatened at the back with Jamie McNeill defending well.
Despite their dominance in possession, United couldn’t level the scoring despite a great chance for Gregg Allison, who’s shot pinballed around the 6-yard box before being cleared.
Ballynahinch piled on the pressure, pushing more players forward in search of a goal when Chris Coleman found himself in space in the box, but he could only spurn it over the bar whilst a header at the back post from Cameron McKissick also flew over the bar.
Finally, with time almost up, United threw the kitchen sink at Bangor, throwing almost everyone into the box. Goalkeeper Stefan Graham launched a freekick from the halfway line forward. The high ball looked wasted, but somehow dropped into the Bangor net, much to Ballynahinch’s relief to give United an equaliser, a point and the Skipper an unexpected goal!
Player of the Match: Jamie McNeill
Line up: Stefan Graham [C], Greg Hall, Sam Lurring, Scott Brashaw, Jamie McNeill (Cameron McKissick), Chris Coleman, Gregg Allison, Stuart McMullan, Graeme McMullan (Patrick Harkin), Gavin Crawford, Robbie Lurring
Unused sub: Luke Craig
The Swifts’ home fixture versus Tollymore Forest was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.