Following Thursday night's poor showing at Limavady, Roy Walker rang the changes to his team which included a first appearance for winger Eamon Murray and also a reutnr to Inver Park for Ryan Brown and Gary McCutcheon.

The first half offered little in terms of entertainment with the visitors coming closest when Scottish forward Gary McCutcheon rattled the post with an effort and Richard Gibson failed to convert the rebound, sending his effort wide.

The game finally got going when half-time substitute Andy Smith entered the fray and opened the scoring after 62 minutes.

Deadlock was broken when teenage winger Michael Smith (II) hit a cross-come-shot from the right flank which allowed the former Northern Ireland international to nip in for a simple close range header.

Ballymena's lead lasted only seven minutes though as Larne struck an equaliser when Allen Reid's long range effort seem to take a deflection en route to goal.

United continued to press until the end and grabbed a late winner with seven minutes left when good work from Gary McCutcheon allowed Michael Smith (II) to break through as he calmly broke through and rounded Neeson in the Larne goal before slotting home.

The Braidmen will resume their pre-season schedule next Saturday afternoon at the club's annual Open Day against the Northern Ireland Junior International side.

Picture: Courtesy of Andrew Scullion, Larne FC

Teams:

LARNE	BALLYMENA UNITED
1: NEESON, Brian	1: NELSON, Dwayne
2: McDONALD, David	2: SMITH, Michael (I)
3: LARMOUR, Gareth	3: COLLIGAN, Lee
4: MARSH, Jamie	4: HAVERON, Gary (c)
5: MOORE, Reece	5: WATSON, Albert
6: REID, Allen	6: STEWART, Aaron
7: TODD, Craig	7: BERRY, Ryan
8: McCLEAN, Brian	8: TAGGART, Gavin
9: CRAIG, Mark	9: McCUTCHEON, Gary
10: LARMOUR, David	10: GIBSON, Richard
11: DICK, Adam	11: MURRAY, Eamonn
Substitutes	-
12: McNALLY, Scott	12: GAGE, Denver
Replaced Gareth Larmour	Replaced Aaron Stewart (60 mins)
14: POLLARD, Matthew	13: SMITH, Michael (II)
Replaced Craig Todd	Replaced Ryan Berry (60 mins)
15: HIGGINS, Ricky	14: SMITH, Andy
Replaced David Larmour	Replaced Richard Gibson (46 mins)
16: THOMPSON, Lee	15: CARSON, Rory
Replaced Mark Craig	Replaced Gavin Taggart (60 mins)
Yellow Cards:	-
None	None
Red Cards:	-
None	None