BALLYMENA United brought 2006 to a close in winning fashion with a 3-2 success at Newry City today.

Second half goals from Randal Reid, Mark Picking and a Gary Haveron penalty put United into a commanding position before Newry pulled a late consolation goal back.

The win was the perfect response to criticism which the players had received following the Boxing Day 'derby' defeat at the hands of Coleraine.

The first half gave little indication of the ease with which Ballymena would ultimately triumph. It was a closely-contested affair with little in the way of goalscoring opportunities created by either side.

Newry came close in the 17th minute when Richard Clarke crossed from the left and Steven Ferguson's almost nonchalant flicked effort clipped the top of Paul Murphy's crossbar on its way over.

Then Lee Patrick's misguided back header was knocked on by Andy Crawford but Kevin Keegan's first-time volley from the edge of the penalty area flew just wide with Murphy beaten.

Ballymena's first real meaningful effort didn't come until two minutes before the interval and involved two players restored to the starting line-up.

Aidan Watson's clever through ball found Randal Reid in a good position in the penalty area but, rather than shoot, the young striker opted to pull the ball across goal and when it deflected off a defender, the in-rushing Mark Picking could only shoot straight at Robert Robinson.

But within eight minutes of the restart, Ballymena were in front. Makeshift Newry centre-back Paddy Quinn made an error of judgement with an attempted back-pass which was seized upon by Darren Fitzgerald, who coolly laid the ball into the path of his striker partner Reid to fire home an angled drive.

The second goal came on 67 minutes when Patrick threaded a beautifully-weighted through ball past the Newry rearguard for Picking to race clear and round Robinson before slotting home.

And the game was over as contest four minutes later when United were awarded a penalty after referee Stephen Weatherall adjudged that substitute Kevin Kelbie had been impeded by full-back Niall Hudson in his efforts to connect with Picking's right-wing cross. Defender Gary Haveron assumed the penalty-taking duties and tucked his effort low into the right-hand corner.

Newry pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when Hudson's cross eluded a number of players in the penalty area before being bundled home at the back post by substitute Ray Fitzpatrick but Ballymena ran out comfortable winners to give them a boost ahead of Tuesday night's home game with league leaders Glentoran.

Newry City: Robinson, Hudson, D. King, McLaughlin, Quinn, Clarke, Crawford, Curran, Keegan, Feeney (sub Fitzpatrick 66), Ferguson. Subs (not used): Donegan, Ward.

Ballymena United: P. Murphy, Callaghan, McClean, Aidan Watson, Albert Watson, Haveron, Picking, Patrick, Reid (sub Scates 78), Fitzgerald (sub Kelbie 67), S. King. Sub (not used): D. Murphy.

Referee: Stephen Weatherall (Belfast).

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