Half-time scorepublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Image source, BBC SportCounty Antrim Shield HT score
Summary
Result: Ballymena 2-4 Crusaders
Beverland, Owens, Caddell and Heatley for Crues
McMurray and Friel for Ballymena
Half-time scorepublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
It looks done and dusted here at half-time - barring an extraordinary comeback by the Braidmen in the second period.
Chances at either endpublished at 20:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
After Johnny McMurray fails to get full purchase on a chance as Jensen makes the stop, Snoddy goes close at the other end from long range as he is denied by Glendinning's super save.
CLOSE!published at 20:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
Caddell is inches away from adding to Crusaders lead as he fires over after a lovely Heatley ball. The Crues look capable of scoring in every one of their frequent attacks. Ballymena's defence at sixes and sevens.
Ouchpublished at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
Dear oh dear, Kevin Braniff has just missed an absolutely glorious chance to pull a goal back. The ball fell invitingly into the former Northern Ireland striker's path but he horribly sliced wide from six yards out with the goal gaping.
DISALLOWED GOALpublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
Jordan Owens thinks he has headed a fourth goal for Crusaders on 30 minutes but the effort is ruled out for offside. Looked a marginal enough close at first glance.
GOALpublished at 20:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-3 Crusaders
Declan Caddell fires in a third Crusaders goal in the 23rd minute after more awful Ballymena defending. Home defender Kofi Balmer was brushed off the ball by Paul Heatley after a long punt to the edge of the box and Caddell fired home from 14 yards.
Media caption, Declan Caddell makes it 3-0 to Crusaders at the Ballymena Showgrounds
Jeffrey looking glumpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-2 Crusaders
David Jeffrey is looking a tad glum on the sideline and no wonder. The Ballymena boss can't have been banking on that start for his team.
GOALpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-2 Crusaders
Two goals in two minutes. Paul Heatley's deep cross goes all the way across the Ballymena defence and Jordan Owens fires past Ross Glendinning. A disastrous start for the Braidmen.
Media caption, Jordan Owens doubles Crusaders lead against Ballymena United
GOALpublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United 0-1 Crusaders
Howard Beverland stabs Crusaders ahead from close range in the eighth minute after Ballymena fail to clear a corner. A scrappy goal but they all count.
Media caption, Howard Beverland gives Crusaders the lead
Big crowd in the housepublished at 19:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United v Crusaders
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End of twitter postKICK-OFFpublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United v Crusaders
And we're off at the Showgrounds. The pitch looks a little cut up in places but the grounds staff have done a great job getting this game out of the traps.
LINE-UPSpublished at 19:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United v Crusaders
Ballymena United make two changes from Saturday's Premiership defeat by Ards as William Faulkner replaces Conor McCloskey and Johnny McMurray takes over from Francis McCaffrey.
Stephen Baxter's Crues side shows three changes from the exciting 3-3 draw with Coleraine. Brian Jensen replaces Sean O'Neill in goal with Philip Lowry in for suspended Colin Coates and Matthew Snoddy preferred to Jordan Forsythe.
Image caption, County Antrim Shield final teams
Jeffrey says Ballymena 'will give it everything'published at 19:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Media caption, Ballymena United manager David Jeffrey
Live coveragepublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United v Crusaders
The big match is live on the BBC Sport website with Grant Cameron our commentator, alongside regular Irish League Show pundit, Chris Morgan.
We also have commentary on Radio Ulster medium wave and the website. Joel Taggart is the master of ceremonies and he will introduce commentator Michael McNamee and match analyst Darren Murphy, former Irish League star and Dungannon Swifts boss.
Coming uppublished at 19:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Ballymena United v Crusaders
Welcome to tonight's coverage of the County Antrim Shield final from the Ballymena Showgrounds.
It is all set to be an intriguing contest with Ballymena, who won the toss for home advantage, taking on the Crues who are THE form team in Northern Ireland's top flight.
The visitors are on a mightily impressive 21-game unbeaten sequence - their last defeat being way back before the clocks changed!
Crusaders are in the running for no less than five trophies - the Premiership, Irish Cup, Shield, League Cup and - would you believe - the Scottish Challenge Cup.
So Stephen Baxter's squad is being tested as we head towards the business end of the season.
They will be favourites tonight, but Ballymena fans have celebrated Shield success twice since the Crues last lifted this sizeable silverware in the 2009/10 season.
Ballymena were Shield winners in 2013 and '16 while the Seaview side were beaten finalists in 2014 and '17, losing 3-1 to Linfield last season.