The Crues moved into the lead on 20 minutes when Colin Coates was allowed to head unchallenged past Paul Murphy after Stephen Hyndes had delivered a corner.

They doubled their advantage on 52 minutes through Stevie Coulter after his shot from a Chris Morrow ball took a deflection off Garth Scates.

However Ballymena were handed a glimmer of hope with 20 minutes remaining when Crusaders were reduced to ten men when Barry Spence was dismissed following a tackle on Mark Picking.

They managed to pull a goal back on 89 minutes when Gavin Melaugh got the vital touch after a goalmouth scramble caused by a Simon Kelly ball.

And then, amazingly, five minutes into stoppage time substitute Davitt Walsh popped up with a shot in off the bar to earn them a share of the spoils.