News

The Glens stunned United with two goals in quick succession early in the game.

On 11 minutes Stephen Gordon opened the scoring after nodding home a Curtis Allen flick from Stephen McAlorum's left-sided cross.

Then, a couple of minutes after that, Gordon turned provider to deliver the final ball for David Scullion to lift a shot over 'keeper Tim Allen.

United tried to force their way back into the game, eventually managed to reduce the deficit a minute from the break when Tony Kane fired a sweetly struck effort into the bottom corner.

The sides traded chances after the break but Glentoran made sure of the points six minutes from time when Allen darted onto a Gordon through ball to fend off the attentions of defender Johnny Taylor before tucking the ball into the net at the near post.

Ballymena United: Allen, Ervin, McNally, Taylor, McBride, Kane, Jenkins, Thompson, Cushley, Boyce, Tipton subs Teggart (replaced Cushley 76), Ruddy (not used), McCaul (replaced Thompson 80), Gawley (not used), McAllister (replaced McNally 52)

Glentoran: Morris, Birney, Scullion, Allen, Stewart, Henderson, McAlorum, Addis, Gordon, Holland, McCullough subs McCaffrey (replaced Henderson 76), O'Hanlon (not used), McKee (replaced Scullion 89), Calvert (not used), Hogg (not used)

Referee: Keith Kennedy

Attendance: 1010

Lineups, Bookings and Substitutions

Timothy Allen
Stephen McBride	78
Patrick McNally		52
Johnny Taylor	72
Tony Kane			44
Allan Jenkins	66
David Cushley		76
Gary Thompson		80
Darren Boyce
Jim Ervin
Matt Tipton	34

Elliott Morris
Calum Birney	36
Jordan Stewart
David Scullion		89	13
Curtis Allen	64		84
Jonathan Addis
Niall Henderson		76
Stephen McAlorum
Steven Gordon			11
Barry Holland
Steven McCullough

Subs

Alan Teggart		76
Brian McCaul		80
Eamon McAllister		52

Subs

Francis McCaffrey		76
Danny McKee		89