Bounce-back-ability!

On Friday night the Sky Blues the long trip to Newry to face struggling a City side third from bottom.

Roy Walker’s side will come up against tougher tests this season as Newry were forced into changes at the back with captain John Convery suspended with Davy Munster returned at the heart of the defence.

United’s front pairing of Gary McCutcheon and Andy Smith relished the opportunity of playing against this defence as they linked up well. Nathan Hanley also started the game in fine form, using his pace on the left wing to attack City again and again.

It was clear the Braid men wanted to make up for last week’s disappointment as straight from the whistle they looked the better team. United could have been ahead by at least two goals in the first 20 minutes with Hanley curling the best of the chances round the post after skinning right back Darren King.

The break through finally came as the Impressive McCutcheon fired the Braid men in front in the 37th minute of the first half, given them a deserved half time lead.

A weak header from Newry Midfielder Cullen Feeney, fell to the United striker who hooked the ball home in clinical fashion.

Ballymena almost paid for those missed chances as City’s Gavin McDonnell hit the bar from 20 yards then Cullen Feeney’s rebound also came back off the woodwork.

Shortly after this panic however it was the coolness of Michael Smith that doubled Ballymena’s lead. On 55 minutes when Michael Smith picked the ball up on the edge of the box, sidestepped Coleman who had come rushing out of his goal and then coolly slotted home off the inside of the right hand post.

Eamon Murray increased the lead on 77 minutes when fell to McCutcheon, he slipped to Eamonn Murray who produced a classy finish after a 40 yard dash before producing a classy finish.

United knew the points were safe but kept up the pressure

Hanley got the goal his performance he deserved when he completed the rout, drilling in from the edge of the box.

It was a win that United deserved and it moved them briefly up to fifth in the table, they are now sixth following Saturday’s result.

Ballymena United: Brown, M Smith, Haveron, Watson, Stewart. Taggart, A Smith, McCutcheon (Gibson 84), Surgenor, Murray, Hanley.

Subs not used: Berry, McDowell, Gage, Nelson