Despite the opportunity of a possible eighth place position in the IFA Premiership depending on other results, Roy Walker’s side gave themselves a mountain to club after going behind after only five minutes. United goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson remained flat-footed as former winger Stuart King’s long range free-kick from 30-yards flew straight in, despite the celebrations from Trevor Molloy, it was almost certainly King’s goal.

King again tested Nelson on 9 minutes when his cross dipped dangerously, forcing the Magherafelt stopper to tip over to avert the danger. Glenavon were bossing the game and Molloy ought to have doubled the lead but fired a close-range effort straight at the goalkeeper on 20 minutes.

Things got worse for the travelling Sky Blues ten minutes later when defender Chris Ramsey was forced to limp out of the action to be replaced by the veteran Darren Lockhart. However, it was the former Crusaders and Glentoran midfielder that carved out Ballymena’s equaliser.

With three minutes to half-time; Lockhart skipped by the weak challenges of Murray and Shannon down the left side and found space to float a perfect cross to the back-post where Kevin Kelbie was lurking to comfortably nod home his sixteenth goal of the season and more poignantly – possibly his last goal in Ballymena United colours.

The second half proved to be fairly routine end-of-season fayre with both sides equally capable of taking all three points. Eamon Murray struck the top of the crossbar with a header on 62 minutes for Glenavon while Michael Smith flashed an effort across goal at the other end only moments later.

United had two good chances to seal a morale boosting victory though, when firstly substitute James McLaughlin’s powerful header forced a reflex save out of home goalkeeper Andrew Plummer. Then five minutes from time Mark Surgenor’s 40 yard run and long range effort cannoned off the crossbar, much to the Broughshane man’s dismay.

The final whistle sounded to call time on a highly forgettable season for the Braidmen, with Kevin Kelbie handing his shirt over to a young supporter after the game amidst the grateful applause of the visiting supporters, as this was surely the last time they would see the Scottish striker in United colours again, fittingly he scored the last of his 75 goals for Ballymena at the same venue in which he scored his first back in September 2005.

"On the second half performance we maybe edged it but probably fair enough overall,"

"On the face of it, it looks a bit like we've treaded water although I feel progress has been made in some areas and not others which we now have to address."

Pictures: www.presseye.com