Not the result Braid boss, Tommy Wright, would have wanted in the wake of committing his future to the Sky Blues after turning down the opportunity to join Norwich City in the English Championship.

The former Northern Ireland international received a standing ovation from the United faithful as he emerged from the tunnel at the start of the game.

The Sky Blues started brightly but failed to really test Cayman Island international, Tuda Murphy, in the Lurgan Blues’ goal – as player of the month Kevin Kelbie failed to connect properly with a Stephen Lowry corner.

Glenavon pressed forward with confidence – despite coming into the game manager-less and on the back of a nine game losing streak. New signing Trevor Molloy looked dangerous and forced Gary Haveron into a nervy clearance on the line.

The visitors, under the helm of caretaker boss Alan Fraser, had a few chances but nothing that really troubled Ballymena goalkeeper, Paul Murphy.

On 40 minutes, Lee Patrick then sent King through and Hageman did well to stoop and somehow head the winger’s cross out from under the bar but the ball was immediately played back by King to Kelbie His weak toe poke posed no problem for the visiting goalkeeper.

The second half was a dull affair, with the home side shading the possession but it was Glenavon inspired by new signing, Molloy, creating the best chances.

Substitute Mark Picking had Ballymena’s best chance when he volleyed a loose ball the wrong side of the post late in the half for the tired looking Braidmen.

Molloy nearly struck the winner late in the game when he found himself unmarked in the penalty area, but fired just wide with the goal gaping. Kevin Kelbie seen his strong drive sail over the bar, after he was put through by David Cushley, as the Sky Blues finished with a point to keep their unbeaten run stretched to a remarkable twelve games.

Manager Tommy Wright wasn’t too despondent after a game that may be seen as two dropped than one gained.

"When you include the rearranged game we had to play at Distillery, that was our sixth match in 19 days and it showed because we looked as if we were running on empty," said Tommy.

"If that performance had happened in October when things would have been going badly I would have been angry but I can't be too harsh on the players because we're still on that unbeaten run.

"It was always going to be difficult after a tremendous result at Glentoran to lift ourselves up again and Glenavon worked really hard and made it difficult for us.

"We have put a lot into getting the results that we have achieved but you are going to get performances like that – the important thing is that we didn't lose and we kept a clean sheet which takes us a point closer to where we want to be."

The Sky Blues stay in fourth, and are now two points ahead of Distillery whose game was postponed due to the adverse weather conditions.

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	GLENAVON
1: MURPHY, Paul	1: MURPHY, Tuda
2: WRAY, Thomas	2: McADAM, Kris
3: McCLEAN, Craig	3: MEEHAN, Barry
4: PATRICK, Lee	4: COWAN, Johnny
5: HAVERON, Gary (c)	5: McDONNELL, Gavin
6: FLYNN, Johnny	6: HARPER, Adrian
7: LOWRY, Stephen	7: McMAHON, Gerard (c)
8: SCATES, Garth	8: WALSH, Conor
9: MELAUGH, Gavin	9: BRACKEN, David
10: KELBIE, Kevin	10: MOLLOY, Trevor
11: KING, Stuart	11: MAGENNIS, Stephen
Substitutes	-
12: PICKING, Mark	12: HAGEMAN, Andrew
14: CUSHLEY, David	13: MURRAY, Eamon
15: KELLY, Simon	14: STEWART, Sammy
Not Used
16: FITZGERALD, Darren	15: WALSH, Paul
17: WALSH, Davitt	16: KEARNEY, Colm
Yellow Cards:	-
Unknown	Unknown
Red Cards:	-
None	None