Irish Premiership: Ballymena Utd 2-2 Dungannon Swifts

Ballymena lost ground at the top of the Premiership table as they were held to a draw by 10-man Dungannon Swifts.

United had chances in an uninspiring first half and Allan Jenkins found the net after 43 minutes, firing home after meeting a neat Matthew Tipton flick.

Abby Sanusi levelled on 46 minutes with a half-volley from 25 yards, then Gary Liggett shot in at the back post on 76.

Sanusi was sent-off for a second yellow card offence on 83 and Alan Teggart fired in from an acute angle on 84.

The Swifts went into the game on the back of a lamentable run of league form which had seen them garner just two draws from their last eight Premiership fixtures.

In a low-key opening period, Andy Coleman saved from Johnny Taylor, Darren Boyce shot tamely at the goalkeeper and Tipton was denied by defender Dermot McCaffrey.

Jenkins's goal breathed some life into the game, but Sanusi replied with a spectacular strike for the visitors immediately after the interval.

David McCullough saw his shot cleared off the line by Stephen McBride, but Sanusi then turned provider, supplying the cross for ex-Sky Blues forward Liggett to nudge Darren Murphy's side ahead.

Teggart salvaged a point with a left-foot finish at the back post, a minute after Sanusi had been sent-off for his second bookable offence.

Tipton had a chance to win the game for his side late on, while Liggett was one-on-one with keeper Dwayne Nelson in the closing seconds, but the United stopper saved his effort.

Ballymena remain sixth in the table, three points behind pacesetters Crusaders.