Aaron Black's ninth-minute penalty was enough to earn Crusaders a place in the Paddy Power County Antrim Shield final.

Black notched the penalty after Ballymena defender Gavin Taggart was adjudged to have fouled Mark Dickson.

Taggart then went close for Ballymena and Nathan McConnell wasted the Braidmen's best chance.

However, Dominic Melly and Ross Arthurs went close to doubling the Crues lead while Dwayne Nelson saved a second-half penalty from goalscorer Black.

As expected, Crues boss Stephen Baxter made six changes from Saturday's league win over Cliftonville with David Rainey only making the bench and Chris Morrow left out of the squad altogether.

Ross Arthurs shields the ball from Lee Colligan at Solitude

Darren Lockhart's inclusion at the expense of Philip Carson was Roy Walker's only change from Saturday's win over Coleraine.

Black sent Nelson the wrong way from the spot on nine minutes after Taggart had felled Mark Dickson on the edge of the penalty area.

Taggart went close to atoning two minutes later at the other end but his shot was saved by stand-in Crues keeper Aaron Hogg.

Melly was inches away from doubling Crusaders' lead on 25 minutes after a good move involving Dickson and Arthurs.

Ballymena's best first-half chance fell to McConnell on 35 minutes but he shot wide after latching on to an Andy Smith cross.

Arthurs went close for the Crues in first-half injury-time but his effort was cleared off the line by Chris Ramsey.

Black's 56th-minute penalty miss came after Ballymena keeper Nelson hauled down Melly in the box.

Once again, Black hit the spot-kick to the keeper's left but Nelson guessed right and comfortably saved the weaker effort.

Ballymena had plenty of possession during the remaining 34 minutes but they were unable to create a decent chance.

The win means Crusaders will face the winners of Wednesday's second semi-final between Linfield and Cliftonville in the decider.

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