Allan Jenkins made his first appearance in a sky blue shirt since his summer move from Morton and was handed the captains armband, whilst Eamonn Murray also took part in his first pre-season fixture since his early return from Australia.

The Braidmen bossed Justin McBride's side from the start and came close twice in the first 15 minutes when firstly Gary McCutcheon forced a good save from the Ards goalkeeper and then Allan Jenkins fired wide from distance.

Jenkins continued cause problems and the Scottish midfielder was upended in the box on 22 minutes with James Costello dispatching the resulting penalty to give Ballymena an early lead.

The County Down side almost equalised on the half hour when David Cully's speculative effort forced a fantastic reflex save from former Ards goalkeeper Aaron Kerr.

United increased their lead four minutes before the break when McCutcheon (pictured) controlled an Aaron Stewart cross well on the edge of the box and drilled a low drive into the bottom corner.

Both teams made a number of substitutions during the second half, which prevented any real cohesion in the game but the game was killed off as a contest eight minutes into the second period.

With McCutcheon again involved he struck a low drive which was parried by Ards' goalkeeper McKibbon only as far as winger Alan Teggart who tapped home from close range for his first goal in United colours.

Last season's top goalscorer McCutcheon almost added a fourth late on, but missed a header from point blank range from a cross from former Colchester United trialist Conor McCluskey.

United will face local neighbours Ballyclare Comrades at Dixon Park on Tuesday night in their next pre-season fixture - kick-off is 7.45pm.