NOW TEN UNBEATEN FOR THE SKY BLUES
Ballymena United moved into fourth spot thanks to a two-goal victory over Carrick Rangers at The Showgrounds to stretch their current unbeaten run into double figures.
Lloyd Anderson crafted the first effort of the game after a couple of minutes but his shot from the edge of the box was comfortably held by Ross Glendinning.
At the other end Paul McElroy forced a good save from Aaron Hogg after Ryan Waide had flicked the ball on while Shay McCartan tested the visiting keeper from 25 yards.
Jordan Jenkins nodded just wide not long after the half-hour mark but, on 36 minutes, the deadlock was broken in Ballymena's favour after McElroy's low delivery into the box was turned into his own by Steven Gordon as he attempted to clear.
Carrick might have levelled on the stroke of half-time when Anderson found Jordan Gibson inside the box but Ross Glendinning did well to save with his feet.
A quieter second half took some time to get going with Ryan Harpur producing the first effort of note with a header just over the bar while, for Carrick, Caolan Loughran tested Glendinning with a well taken shot.
Ballymena made sure of the points with nine minutes remaining. Against the run of play Shay McCartan beat Lee Chapman to the ball before breaking clear to lift the ball over the advancing Hogg.
And there was almost a third in stoppage time - and a second for McCartan - but his effort from distance came crashing back off an upright.
Ballymena United: Glendinning, T. Kane, Redman, Addis, McKeown, McElroy, McCartan, Waide, Hume, Ervin, Kelly subs D. Graham (not used), Harpur (replaced McKeown 59), Knowles (not used), Wylie (replaced Waide 86), Beattie (not used), McCready (not used), Farquhar (not used)
Carrick Rangers: Hogg, Neale, Rodgers, Loughran, Chapman, Kelly, Gordon, Gibson, Anderson, Jenkins, McMullan subs Connor Friel (not used), Forsythe (replaced Chapman 84), Gawne (not used), Smith (replaced Gibson 67), Glendinning (not used), Storey (replaced McMullan 61), Cathair Friel (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
