Gary Haveron captained the young side that included first-team players such as Gavin Melaugh, Paul Brown and Lee Patrick along with the crux of the side that won the Carnegie Reserve League last term.

Randal Reid grabbed the only goal of the game after 30 minutes with a tremendous flashing header from a Lee Patrick cross.

Ballymena had calls for a penalty turned away early as the 10th minute, as a Stranraer Athletic defender seemed to handle the ball in his own penalty area.

The first-half was a quiet affair with the South of Scotland League side restricting to limited chances, with David Cushley coming closested with a long range effort with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

The second half saw United's young side take a greater control of the game, with Cushley having a goal disallowed for offside soon after the restart.

David Dorrian, in charge of team affairs tonight, made his only two substitutions on the hour taking off the ineffective Brown and also Andy Long bringing on Stephen Lowry and Gareth McConaghie. Manager, Tommy Wright, has expressed that he wanted his squad to get as many game minutes as possible and would resist making a host of unnecessary substitutions.

Ballymoney based McConaghie was making his first appearance in a United shirt since March after damaging ligaments in the defeat to Lisburn Distillery.

The home side had two great chances to grab an equaliser as firstly, a stinging shot from the Scots rattled the crossbar with 20 minutes remaining.

Five minutes later goalkeeper Sean O'Neill was called into action with a fantastic reaction save from close range, getting a foot to the ball to clear the danger.

Although in the end it was Ballymena who could have won the game by a greater scoreline as Gavin Melaugh had two good efforts turned away and Aaron Stewart had a header cleared off the line in the last minute.

A satisfactory win for the Sky Blues, who conclude their tour with the game against Stranraer FC tomorrow.

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