Ballymena United 1, Glenavon 2

The Sky Blues lost to Glenavon in a game which saw three players sent off.

Glenavon had gone in front with a stunning Kyle Neill free kick shortly after Lurgan Blues defender Gareth McKeown had been sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Ballymena goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan.

Arguably the biggest turning point of the match came in the first half when Ballymena midfielder Gary Thompson was controversially sent off for what referee Raymond Crangle deemed a high challenge on Shane McCabe.

Ballymena battled their way into the match in the second half with an equaliser from Allan Jenkins but Mark Patton scored what proved the winner for Glenavon with 15 minutes left before United had Tony Kane sent off in stoppage time.

Roared on by more than 3,600 fans, Ballymena were led onto the pitch by long-time club sponsor Norman McBurney - a fitting tribute to his long service to the club.

Ballymena suffered a blow when they lost right-back Jim Ervin to injury inside the opening half-hour. The defender appeared to injure a knee in a collision and although he briefly returned following treatment, he limped off again to be replaced by Gavin Taggart.

The game took an unexpected twist on 29 minutes when Glenavon defender Gareth McKeown was sent off after clashing with United keeper Aaron Shanahan before a corner kick.

And the Lurgan side were briefly reduced to nine men when defender Kris Lindsay went off with a facial injury but Ballymena were unable to take advantage of their numerical supremacy, with David Cushley blazing a shot wildly over from a Stephen McBride cross in United’s best opening.

Instead, the Sky Blues found themselves behind a minute later. Guy Bates drew a foul from Davy Munster 30 yards from goal and Kyle Neill stepped up to fire home an unstoppable free kick past a despairing Shanahan.

And the Sky Blues were dealt another huge blow on 40 minutes when they, too, were reduced to 10 men as midfielder Gary Thompson were shown a straight red card by Crangle for what the referee deemed a high challenge on Shane McCabe.

It looked an extremely harsh decision and prompted fury from Ferguson on the touchline.

It also served to throw the manager’s plans into complete disarray and Glenavon came close to doubling their lead with headed efforts from teenage full-backs James Singleton and Rhys Marshall.

United were glad to reach half-time to re-group and they showed more urgency with Tony Kane, who had replaced Ervin at right-back, advancing forward to send an effort narrowly over the crossbar.

Ballymena spurned their best opening on 59 minutes when, from a knockdown after a free kick, Darren Boyce seemed certain to score at the back post but Ciaran Martyn threw himself in front of the ball to divert the effort behind for a corner.

As United continued to try to force a way back into the game, defender Johnny Taylor strode forward but his effort was tipped behind by James McGrath.

But from the resultant corner, the keeper was nowhere near Alan Teggart’s delivery and when the ball dropped at Allan Jenkins’ feet, the Scot fired home from close-range.

But United were level for just five minutes as Tony Kane lost his footing, enabling Mark Patton to collect a loose ball and cut inside before steering a shot neatly into Shanahan’s bottom corner.

Ballymena tried desperately to force the tie into extra-time but, after neatly bringing down a dropping ball, Alan Davidson could only shoot straight at McGrath.

And with the game in the closing minutes, Ally Teggart released Cushley who outmuscled Singleton but he could only shoot against the chest of McGrath.

Ballymena finished the game with nine players with nine men as Tony Kane was sent off deep in stoppage time for a rash challenge on Glenavon player/manager Gary Hamilton.

Ballymena United: Shanahan, Ervin (sub Taggart 28), Munster (sub Stewart 83), Taylor, McBride, Kane, Thompson, Jenkins, Cushley, Boyce (sub Davidson 65), Teggart. Subs (not used): Davidson, Stewart, Surgenor, Gawley.

Glenavon: McGrath, Marshall, Lindsay, McKeown, Singleton, McGrory, McCabe, Martyn, Neill (sub Patton 67), Bates, Mulvenna (sub Murphy 79). Subs (not used): Kilmartin, Hamilton, Rainey.

Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast).