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 Glenavon rocketed back up to second spot in the table following this four-goal thumping of Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.

The Sky Blues might have broken the deadlock after half-an-hour when Alan Teggart delivered a dangerous looking cross from the left but the inrushing Matt Tipton just failed to connect at the back post.

Then, four minutes after that, Neal Gawley beat Paddy McNally to the ball only to fire over.

But Glenavon seized the advantage on the stroke of half-time when Kyle Neill beat Dwayne Nelson after a flowing move from Kevin Braniff and Eoin Bradley.

And it was 2-0 just nine minutes into the second half after Bradley ran through the United defence to get on the end of a Braniff through ball to give Nelson no chance with a strong finish.

The game was over as a contest on 72 minutes with Glenavon's third, after Nelson's attempted clearance hit Rhys Marshall before deflecting into the air - only for the United 'keeper to drop the ball as it returned presenting Marshall with a simple tap in.

The visitors added to their tally with seven minutes remaining after player-manager Gary Hamilton teamed up with fellow substitute Andy McGrory to curl the ball around Nelson into the bottom corner.

United grabbed an 89th minute consolation when, from a cross from the left, Allan Jenkins rose highest to head home.

Ballymena United: Nelson, McCullagh, McVey, Munster, McBride, Teggart, Davidson, Taggart, Gawley, Cushley, Tipton subs Jenkins (replaced McBride 76), Stewart (not used), Ruddy (not used), McCaul (replaced Taggart 62), Boyce (replaced Davidson 62)

Glenavon: Blayney, McKeown, Neill, Bradley, Dillon, Caldwell, Marshall, McNally, Braniff, McCabe, Singleton subs Murphy (not used), Kilmartin (not used), Hamilton (replaced Neill 80), McGrory (replaced Bradley 60), Martyn (replaced Singleton 85)

Referee: Tim Marshall

Attendance: 875