Tommy Wright's side made a blistering start, scoring twice inside the opening eight minutes at a showery Seahaven Park.

The opening goal arrived in the fourth minute following a goalmouth melee which saw Portstewart defender Ian Todd, in his efforts to clear the danger, put the ball into his own net via the underside of the crossbar.

The lead was doubled just four minutes later when Mark Picking produced a peach of a cross onto the head of Darren Fitzgerald, who scarcely had to move as he nodded home from six yards.

The same pairing combined for United's third goal on the half hour when Fitzgerland had a simple tap-in at the back post after a low Picking centre eluded the Ports defence.

The game lost all impetus in the second half but the senior side added a fourth in the final minute, courtesy of triallist Paudie Hearty.

The Dundalk-based striker was recommended to Wright by fellow Dundalk natives Simon Kelly and Paul Murphy and it was from a through ball by Kelly - who was deployed in an experimental holding midfield role - that Hearty ran on to beat keeper Matthew McGraw with an assured finish.

Ballymena's only permanent close-season signing Thomas Wray had an assured debut at right-back, deputising for Aaron Callaghan who recieved a late call-up for the Northern Ireland select side.

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