The Sky Blues travelled to the Maiden City in their free weekend, to help aid Derry City's pre-season campaign, ahead of the start of the Eircom League season next month.

It was a first home game for Derry boss Stephen Kenny and he included former Ballymena United defender Aaron Callaghan in his starting line-up.

English defender, Dean Pooley, started his first game with the first team after his move from Bohemians last week, playing in the centre of the Ballymena defence.

Derry came out sharp from the off and Mark Farren seen his shot blocked by the Braid goalkeeper.

The full-time home side showed their strength when Ciaran Martyn forced Paul Murphy into a smart save after 15 minutes, and Scottish trialist Willie McLaren rattled the post with the rebound.

Ballymena continued to pass the ball about comfortably, but without in-form striker, Kevin Kelbie, failed to threaten the home goal for much of the game.

With the score goalless and the break looming, Ballymena United conceded a sloppy goal late in the first half.

McLaren, who also lined up against United for St. Johnstone in the summer, was found unmarked from Kevin Deery cross - and he tucked the ball away for the opening goal.

Just like the International friendlies in midweek an influx of substitions killed the game as a contest as the match descended into a glorified training session.

Derry pressed forward at their own leisure and on the hour mark - Pat McCourt played Ciaran Martyn through but he seen his shot cleared off the line by Dean Pooley.

Tommy Wright used the game to give teenage defender Aaron Stewart a first taste of first team football. The young full-back is the son of former United and Coleraine defender, Alfie Stewart.

The game finished with just the one goal in front of a very good crowd for a friendly game, which included a vocal contingent from the Braid.

Returning Derry boss Stephen Kenny wasn't too enthused with the victory; "I would liked to have put on a better performance for our supporters.

For some of the players it was their first match back and you have to allow for some rustiness.

"Ballymena played 4-5-1 and that was a bit surprising for a friendly but they were obviously practising that for their game against Linfield next week.

"The game wasn't free flowing and the conditions was difficult but we got a game under our belt and at the end of the day it's another win."

Teams:

DERRY CITY	BALLYMENA UNITED
1: DOHERTY, Gerard	1: MURPHY, Paul
2: McCALLION, Eddie	2: WRAY, Thomas
3: HARGAN, Sean	3: McCLEAN, Craig
4: GRAY, Steven	4: KELLY, Simon
5: CALLAGHAN, Aaron	5: WATSON, Albert (c)
6: DEERY, Kevin	6: POOLEY, Dean
7: MARTYN, Ciaran	7: MELAUGH, Gavin
8: McCOURT, Pat	8: SCATES, Garth
9: McLAREN, Willie	10: LOWRY, Stephen
10: McHUGH, Keivn	11: KING, Stuart
11: FARREN, Mark	17: WALSH, Davitt
Substitutes	-
12: HUTTON, Peter	9: REID, Randal
Replaced Steven Gray	Replaced Davitt Walsh (70 mins)
14: MOLLOY, Barry	12: PICKING, Mark
Replaced Aaron Callaghan	Replaced Stephen Lowry (60 mins)
15: HIGGINS, Ruardhri	13: WILSON, Keith
Replaced Pat McCourt	Not Used
16: SAMMON, Conor	15: HAVERON, Gary
Replaced Kevin McHugh	Replaced Albert Watson (70 mins)
17: McDAID, David	16: CUSHLEY, David
Replaced Mark Farren	Replaced Stuart King (70 mins)
	18: STEWART, Aaron
	Replaced Craig McClean (75 mins)
	19: McCONAGHIE, Gareth
	Replaced Simon Kelly (75 mins)
Yellow Cards:	-
Unknown	Unknown
Red Cards:	-
None	None