Despite dominating the game in terms of chances created, a lack of cutting edge in front of goal would prove costly for the ‘Gers.
Jim Ervin, Reece Glendinning and Steven Gordon all returned to the side following suspension, but midfielder Andy Mitchell was unavailable after he went off injured against Crusaders five days prior.
Carrick came flying out of the blocks and had two great opportunities to open the scoring within the first ten minutes.
Ben Tilney’s cross found David Cushley in the middle who failed to control the ball when in space, before Lloyd Anderson teed up Kyle Cherry who blazed over from fifteen yards.
A long-range, swerving strike from Mikey Place had to be tipped over the bar by Ross Glendinning, but it continued to be Stuart King’s side who were on top.
Cushley fired a volley over the bar at the back post, with United ‘keeper Sean O’Neill then denying a Tilney drive with a fine reflex save.
The hosts’ bright start was dealt a blow on twenty minutes when Cameron Stewart hobbled off through injury, replaced in attack by Alex Gawne.
Tilney saw another attempt kept out by O’Neill, this time at the near post, before Ballymena skipper Josh Kelly had back-to-back chances for the visitors.
First, his header from a Ryan Waide delivery was straight at Ross Glendinning and then when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he fired low past the post despite having passing options inside.
On the stroke of half time, O’Neill again came to his team’s rescue as he dove to his right to push away Gawne’s low, goalbound strike.
The second half was a more even affair, but it was still the ‘Gers who looked the likelier to open the scoring.
Mark Surgenor’s ball over the top was picked up by Gawne in the box who smashed a shot over the top on the half volley.
The breakthrough finally arrived with twenty minutes remaining.
Tilney’s low cross from the left was flicked towards goal by Anderson and despite an initial block by Conor Keeley, the midfielder converted at the second attempt despite O’Neill’s best efforts to deny him.
However, David Jeffrey’s men hit back with an equaliser less than ten minutes later.
Kelly’s long throw-in wasn’t dealt with and went all the way to Keeley who hooked a first time effort into the far corner of the goal.
With nothing to separate the sides in ninety minutes, extra time was required and Waide wasted a glorious chance in the second minute as he fired just past the post when one-on-one against Glendinning.
The only other opportunity of note came in the second half when Recce Glendinning’s long throw dropped in the box for Daniel Kelly whose high, looping shot came back off the crossbar.
Penalties would decide who was to advance in the competition, and in the end it was a straightforward shootout.
Mikey Place, Ross Redman and Paul McElroy all netted their spot-kicks for the Braidmen while Mark Surgenor, Jim Ervin and Reece Glendinning failed to do so with theirs for Rangers.
It was a cruel way for Carrick to bow out of the competition in a game where they performed so admirably and battled right to the end.
Carrick Rangers: Glendinning; Surgenor, Ervin, Stewart; Forsythe, Cherry (Kalla, 100), Glendinning, Tilney; Anderson (Gillen, 118); Stewart (Gawne, 20 (McKiernan, 118)), Cushley (Kelly, 77).
Unused substitutes: Hogg, Buchanan-Rolleston.
Ballymena United: O’Neill; Place, Whiteside, Keeley, Redman; Waide (Kane, 113), Wilson (Kane, 46), Kelly, Graham; McDaid, Gibson (McElroy, 105).
Unused substitutes: Williamson, McGrory, McVarnock.
Referee: Raymond Crangle
