BALLYMENA United supporters finally got to enjoy a homeward journey after beating Larne 1-0 at Inver Park on Friday night.

Randal Reid's 44th minute header was enough to give Tommy Wright's side their first away win of the season in a scrappy 'derby' encounter.

"It was a result we badly needed but we have to build on it now," warned Wright.

"It was as committed a display as a lot of our recent ones but we came out on the right side of this one thanks to a brilliant goal."

Reid's strike - his second of the season - put the finishing touch to an excellent move, just as it appeared the sides would go in deadlocked at nil-nil.

It had been a typically frenetic meeting between the sides, with the notorious Inver Park surface making it difficult to play attractive football and as a result, neither keeper was seriously tested in the opening half.

That changed a minute before the break. The move started deep inside his own half by central defender Gary Haveron who sprayed a delightful 60-yard diagonal pass into the path of Darren Murphy on the left hand side of midfield. He played a beautiful first time cross towards the near post where Reid arrived with a firm header to give keeper Chris Keenan no chance.

The same player should have made it 2-0 ten minutes after the restart after another flowing Ballymena move.

Right-back Aaron Callaghan was the architect this time, with a blistering run down th right flank, exchanging passes with Darren Fitzgerald before sending over a delightful low cross which Reid somehow steered wide with his left foot.

A succession of bookings and substitutions broke up the flow of the player for the remainder of the game but United did have to endure some scary moments late on as they were bombarded by a succession of long free kicks from keeper Keenan but with centre-backs Gary Haveron and Albert Watson in commanding form, the visitors were finally able to savour that long-awaited win.

Larne: Keenan, Robinson, Mullen, Montgomery, Gollogley, Hamilton, Grzegorczyk (sub O'Hare 61), Ward (sub Delgado 79), Hamlin, Wharry (sub Rafferty 82), Fulton.

Ballymena United: P Murphy, Callaghan, McClean, Scates, Albert Watson, Haveron, Picking (sub Aidan Watson 90+2), Patrick, Reid, Fitzgerald (sub Friel 83), D Murphy (sub King 82).

Referee: Adrian Ball (Banbridge).