The Sky Blues ran out comfortable 3-1 winners against Glenavon, in an exciting encouter on matchday two of the CIS Insurance League Cup.

Speaking to the Sunday Life, United boss Tommy Wright was delighted with the in; "We showed a lot of character," he said. "To come back from a 5-1 defeat and then to go one-down away from home, with an away record like we had last season, their character was superb."

Things didn't start well for the Braidmen, as Glenavon raced into a fifth minute lead when Eamonn Murray's defence splitting pass found Lewis Hamlin. The former Larne man finished cooly, sliding the ball past Paul Murphy for his first goal of the season.

Ballymena's heads didn't drop and the United fans had thought they had got an equaliser on 13 minutes, when Paul Brown's header only found the side netting from close range.

The goal did come two minutes later on the quarter-hour when Darren Fitzgerald's shot was deflected by a Glenavon defender only into the path of Mark Picking who rifled the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Ninety seconds later, the visitors were in front when Garth Scates fired a loose ball past former Ballymena goalkeeper William McFrederick - after Aidan Watson had did well to block a Gerard McMahon clearance.

United continued to dominate, as Darren Fitzgerald beat the offside trap to his own surprise only to see his close range shot well saved by McFrederick at point blank range. This was only moments after skipper Albert Watson had saved United with a goal-line clearance from another Lewis Hamlin effort.

Ballymena continued to press, and Fitzgerald again came within a whisker off increasing the lead, as he dragged a shot just outside the far post only minutes after the restart.

Glenavon's best chance of the half came when Gavin McDonnell's header cannoned off the crossbar from a corner. The Sky Blues also managed to hit the upright, as Picking cannonned a shot off the post with 20 minutes remaining.

A crucial moment in the match came on 76 minutes when Albert Watson hauled down the goal-bound Lewis Hamlin on the edge of the box. Referee Arnold Hunter had no option but to give the Braid skipper the first red card of his Irish League career.

Ballymena blocked the resulting free-kick and five minutes, with nine minutes left on the clock they wrapped the game up.

Man-of-the match Garth Scates drilled a loose ball from just inside the area past McFrederick for his second goal of the game. Manager Wright praised his two-goal midfielder.

"Garth Scates was superb from start to finish. He was man of the match by a mile, scored two great goals and I'm really pleased for him. Technically he's one of the best midfielders in the Irish League."