Aidan McVeigh opened the scoring for Glenavon in the 10th minute and scored what proved to be the winner in the 74th minute. In between Sweeney, from the spot, and Kelbie with a fierce volley, had given Ballymena a 2-1 half time lead before Verner squared it up for the visitors.

The opening goal came from a weak back header from United's skipper, Gary Smyth. McVeigh was able to nip in and slide the ball past McFredrick and, despite the valiant efforts of Donaghy, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line.

The lead lasted barely two minutes, though, as Kelbie went down under a challenge from Black and Mr Ross awarded the home side a penalty which Sweeney dispatched efficiently.

O'Connor hit a looping shot onto the top of the net and Black had a header easily held by McFredrick before neat play by McMahon saw him crossing to the back post with Walker not far away from getting a telling touch. Scates then had a good run and a shot held at the second attempt by McDonald, with Sweeney sliding in to try to get to the loose ball.

United could have gone in front ten minutes before the interval when O'Connor's pass went astray and Rosbotham broke quickly and fed Sweeney but McMahon did a magnificent job of tracking back and he made a vital block to foil Sweeney.

Kelbie gave the hosts the lead six minutes from the interval when he slammed in a right foot volley off the inside of the post after Gary Smyth's long throw was only partly cleared. The same player must have thought he had doubled the lead three minutes later when he chested down Rosbotham's free kick and hit a great shot with his left but McDonald pulled off a brilliant stop to deny him.

Glenavon had played well in the first half but the Sky Blues had taken their chances. In the second half Glenavon put a shaky looking Ballymena defence under pressure, and, after McVeigh clipped the cross bar in the 49th minute, deservedly drew level five minutes later when Verner slotted home Campbell's cross after good play by McVeigh and Black, with the central defender venturing well forward on the left.

Two minutes later Glenavon should have been in front after McFredrick's poor punch went straight up in the air but McVeigh's shot went right across the goal line and Campbell couldn't make contact at the back post. The young Sky Blues keeper made amends when he tipped McAlinden's header over the bar but, with just over 15 minutes remaining, he could do nothing to prevent McVeigh giving his side the lead when he forced the ball in after McFredrick had kept out Campbell's low shot from O'Connor's cross.

Sweeney then put a great chance wide as he dived to head Smyth's flick on goal wards.

Ten minutes from time a poor back pass from Barry Reid allowed Sweeney to reach the ball before McDonald and the Glenavon keeper was sent off for allegedly handling outside the box as he blocked Sweeney's attempted lob. Shea Campbell donned the keeper's jersey and caught a couple of crosses but was not really put to the test with the Glenavon outfield players superbly holding off the Ballymena challenge.