SKY BLUES WIN AT MILLTOWN

Kenny Kane and Paul McElroy bagged the goals which helped Ballymena United defeat Warrenpoint Town at Milltown.

The Sky Blues started with promise, enjoying periods of possession but without carving out anything clear cut in front of goal.

That changed on 19 minutes, however, when Kane opened the scoring when he was allowed to rise unchallenged to head home Andy McGrory's corner.

McGrory then almost added a second moments later when the ball was across the face of goal but he could only send his effort wide.

'Point levelled just after the half-hour through Luke Wade-Slater. Thomas Maguire did well down the left to deliver the cross for Wade-Slater to head beyond Jordan Williamson from six yards.

But Ballymena regained the advantage just before the break courtesy of McElroy's run onto a through ball and subsequent left-foot finish past Conor Mitchell.

Alan O'Sullivan came close for Warrenpoint earlier in the second half only to scuff the ball wide from Jonathan Leddy's corner while, at the other end, Douglas Wilson saw a header cleared off the line from a McGrory delivery.

Warrenpoint chased the equaliser as the second half progressed with Wade-Slater offering up a few speculative efforts with Gregory Moorhouse also having a chance with around a quarter-of-an-hour to go.

Ballymena had their chances, too, with McElroy being denied by Mitchell and Jude Winchester firing over from distance.

The home side rallied in the closing stages in search of the equaliser, forcing a number of corners and almost finding a way through deep into stoppage time when Williamson saved from Leddy but the visitors held on to secure the win.

Warrenpoint Town: Mitchell, Deasy, Ball, Peers, Dillon, O’Sullivan, Gallagher, Wade Slater, Maguire, Hutchinson, Leddy subs McVeigh (not used), Mullen (not used), Masterson (not used), Moorhouse (replaced Maguire 72), Coleman (not used), Peat (not used), Shotayo (not used)

Ballymena United: Williamson, Wilson, Winchester, McElroy, Waide, McCullough, Kane, Barr, McGrory, Keeley, Millar subs Johnston (not used), Chapman (replaced McGrory 80), Redman (not used), Henderson (replaced Winchester 87), Bramall (replaced Waide 72), Smith (not used), Beattie (not used