FOUR wins in a row now for the relentless Ballymena United Reserve side, as they literally destroyed Portadown at Shamrock Park.

The Champions got off to the best possible start after only four minutes when Gary Baird’s corner was flicked on by Randal Reid and volleyed home by Aaron Holland from close range. This was the Carrickfergus defender's first goal of the season.

Ballymena were soon two goals to the good, as on 11 minutes Paul McNeill bravely headed home Aaron Callaghan's cross, despite pressure from the home goalkeeper.

The goal of the game came just after the half-hour mark as Daley Carnduff played a superb through-ball to allow Randal Reid to show good feet rounding the Portadown keeper and slot home from an acute angle for number three.

If the game wasn't already over, George Young sealed things after 52 minutes when he struck the Reserves' fourth. 'Napper' carried the ball into the space on the edge of the area and struck it well from 20 yards, with his shot going in off the woodwork.

This was also the Galgorm teenager's first strike of the season.

Paul McNeill got the fifth just shy of the hour mark, when he glanced Daley Carnduff's great free-kick into the far corner of the battered Portadown net.

McNeill got his hat-trick on 67 minutes when he struck from just outside the box giving the Portadown goalkeeper no chance, as the Ballymena born striker wheeled off in celebration of his ninth goal of the season and his second hat-trick so far.

Reserve team captain, Chris Getty, made a welcome return to the side with 20 minutes remaining. This is the defender's first appearance since dislocating his knee in August.

Remarkably, this is the third time already this season that David Dorrian's Reserves have struck six or more goals in a game as their form is nothing short of intimidating.

The second string will have a break from league action this Saturday, as they host Ballymena & District League side, Dunaghy, in the first round of the WKD Intermediate Cup.

Ballymena United Reserves: Sean O'Neill, Aaron Callaghan, Aaron Holland, Aaron Stewart, Lee Colligan, Gary Baird (sub Michael McGroggan 75), Gareth McConaghie (sub Chris Getty 70), Daley Carnduff, George Young, Paul McNeill (sub Rico Wylie 75), Randal Reid.