Ballymena United 3, Ballinamallard United 0

The Sky Blues shook off their poor recent league form with a comprehensive win over disappointing Ballinamallard - just five days after losing to the same opponents in the Danske Bank Premiership.

Manager Glenn Ferguson made three changes to his starting line-up with skipper Allan Jenkins back in the side, along with strikers Shane Dolan and Michael McLellan, both of whom were on the bench on Friday night.

The game started brightly with Duwayne McManus for the visitors forcing an early save from Dwayne Nelson, while at the other end, David Cushley’s smart turn and volley for Ballymena was narrowly off target.

Ballymena came close on 10 minutes when Michael Ruddy’s cross was met with a firm downward header by Jenkins at the back post but Alvin Rouse dived to his left to push the effort onto the base of the post, from where it was scrambled to safety.

Ballinamallard fashioned an opening when McManus dispossessed Mark McCullagh but his shot was beaten away by United keeper Nelson.

The Sky Blues grabbed the lead on 19 minutes. Cushley burst into the Ballinamallard area and laid the ball off for Dolan. As the Dubliner hesitated in taking a shot, defender Mark McConkey nicked the ball away with a timely tackle but the ball only went as far as Jenkins, who beat Rouse with a composed finish from 14 yards.

Ballymena almost grabbed a fortuitous second as Gary Thompson’s cross deflected off Nigel Beacom and almost crept in at the near post. From the resultant Cushley corner, Shane Dolan headed wide.

The home side deservedly doubled their lead on 36 minutes with a brilliant individual goal from David Cushley. There appeared little danger as the winger collected a ball played into the right hand channel.

With no team-mates in the penalty area, Cushley wriggled his way past a defender on the bye-line before squeezing a shot under Rouse from the most acute of angles.

Ballymena continued to dominate after the break and added to their lead nine minutes into the second period.

Gary Thompson did the spadework, dispossessing Daniel Keohane on Ballymena’s right flank before surging forward and playing in Shane Dolan who held off a defender before flicking a shot past Rouse and in off the inside of the post.

Ballinamallard’s night was summed up when Ryan Campbell beat the offside trap and was clean through on goal but as he attempted to lob the advancing Nelson, his effort sailed miles over the bar.

Michael McLellan came close to adding a fourth with a tremendous 40-yard chip after a powerful run which was superbly tipped over by the back-pedalling Rouse.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane (sub Taggart 82), McCullagh, Taylor, Ruddy, Stewart, Thompson, Jenkins, Cushley (sub Teggart 66), Dolan (sub Liggett 88), McLellan. Subs: Surgenor, Robinson.

Ballinamallard United: Rouse, McConkey, Keohane, Stafford, Kee, Hutchinson (sub C Beacom 66), McCartney, Feeney (sub Crawford 61), McManus (sub Currie 72), N Beacom, Campbell. Subs: Murphy, Cashel, Currie.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon).