BALLYMENA United celebrated St. Patrick's Day in County Armagh by recording a resounding 3-0 victory over Armagh City.

Manager Tommy Wright was pleased with the victory ahead of the cup quarter-final replay against Linfield; "We fully deserved the victory and the boys tried to play the ball on the ground and use the conditions. We restricted Armagh to long range shooting in the second half and our keeper Paul Murphy was ready for that.

"It was hard fought match on a good pitch. The lads trained superbly all week and they brought this with them into the game. It was good performance and a good result."

Nigel Boyd returned to the United side for the first time since November, in place of the suspended Craig McClean, and Steven Lowry made his first start since his January move from Limavady replacing the also suspended Aidan Watson.

The visitors made a blistering start to the game with Garth Scates hit the side netting in the first minute, with midfield partner, Lowry, having a shot blocked moments later after skipping through a fragile Armagh defence.

Ballymena had the the fierce wind on their side, as Kevin Kelbie and Gary Haveron, making his first start since January, came close only to be denied by home custodian James Millar.

The breakthrough came after 14 minutes though, when Stuart King cut in from the left side to drill a powerful shot to the goalkeeper's far post which cannoned off the inside of the post and into the back of the net for the winger's second goal of the season.

The Braidmen scored again on 29 minutes when captain Albert Watson slotted home from a crowded penalty area from a Stuart King cross.

Ballymena continued to dominate the proceedings, with Armagh's only real opporunity coming late in the first half when former Ballymena favourite Shea Campbell miscued his shot when faced with goalkeeper Paul Murphy.

With the change of sides for the second period, Armagh found a way back into the game with the wind on their side, as Forker and Hyndes came close to pulling a goal back for the Holm Park side. However, United sealed the win in the 71st minute when Stuart King whipped in a superb cross from the left side which was met by a close range volley from Garth Scates for Ballymena's third goal.

A comfortable three goal win for Ballymena United, their biggest win of the campaign so far and a few selection headaches for Tommy Wright with a number of big games coming up soon.

Armagh City: Miller, A. McCann, Turkington, C. Walker, Latimer, Cowan, Percy (sub Cullen 75, O'Connor, Campbell, Forker (sub Slater 77), Hyndes (sub Coney 85).

Ballymena United: Murphy, Callaghan, Boyd, Haveron, Albert Watson, Kelly, Lowry (sub McConaghie 88), Scates (sub Picking 84), Brown, Kelbie (sub Fitzgerald 77), King.

Referee: Stephen Moran (Londonderry).

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