SKY BLUES SINK GLENAVON AT THE SHOWGROUNDS
Ballymena United picked up an important three points in pursuit of a European play-off place with victory over fellow contenders Glenavon at The Showgrounds.
Scoreless at the break, the first half was a largely uninspiring affair although Glenavon did have an early double chance when both Matthew Fitzpatrick and Greg Moorhouse had efforts blocked while, a little later, Calvin Douglas crossed for Danny Purkis to head straight at Jordan Williamson.
For Ballymena Leroy Millar perhaps came closest when he sent the ball over from outside the area after being teed up by Paul McElroy before, in stoppage time, Craig Hyland had to be alert to push Shay McCartan's free-kick around the post.
But the Sky Blues grabbed the game by the scruff after the break, moving in front on the hour through McElroy's sublime finish after he intercepted a poor backpass to take the ball round Hyland and into the net at an angle.
It was 2-0 on 70 minutes. Andrew Doyle was adjudged to have brought down Kofi Balmer with McCartan stepping up to convert from the spot.
Then, with ten minutes to go, Balmer himself added a third with a header past Hyland from Ross Redman's free-kick from the right.
Glenavon did grab an 88th consolation when Douglas bagged his first goal for the club with a smashing 30-yard finish into the top corner after Conan Byrne had laid the ball off.
Ballymena United: Williamson, Redman, McElroy, McCartan, Waide, McGrory, Balmer, Hume, Ervin, Millar, Kelly subs Addis (not used), McKeown (replaced McGrory 82), Harpur (replaced Waide 86), Knowles (not used), S. Graham (not used), Wylie (replaced Millar 86), McCready (not used)
Glenavon: Hyland, A. Doyle, Purkis, Campbell, Moorhouse, O'Connor, Fitzpatrick, Douglas, Singleton, Garrett, Ward subs Birney (not used), Byrne (replaced Moorhouse 56), O'Mahony (not used), Norton (replaced O'Connor 73), J. Doyle (not used), McCaffrey (replaced Purkis 56), O. Taylor (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
