BALLYMENA United Reserves grinded out a result against their Armagh City counterparts on Tuesday night, despite the awful weather conditions.

High winds, freezing temperatures and heavy rain weren’t the best conditions for football; however the Reserve side kept up their relentless march towards back-to-back League titles.

It took only four minutes for the young Sky Blues to open the scoring as David Cushley pounced on a loose ball to fire home his fourth goal of the campaign.

It was constant pressure on the visiting goal, as an excellent performance by the Armagh City goalkeeper prevented Darren Fitzgerald, Stuart King and Cushley again from getting the second goal.

Darren Fitzgerald eventually did grab the second goal, early in the second half, as he controlled a cross excellently before turning on the ball in the penalty box before placing a magnificent shot past the goalkeeper.

A mistake by stand-in goalkeeper, Ryan Martin, in the treacherous conditions gifted Armagh City a lifeline as they pulled a goal back with half an hour remaining.

The visitors began to press and Ballymena were forced to hold on, but five minutes from time goalscorer Darren Fitzgerald was given a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

David Dorrian's side held out for their seventh league win in eight games and increased their ever growing lead at the top of the Carnegie Reserve League.

Ballymena United Reserves: Ryan Martin, Thomas Wray, Lee Colligan, Aaron Stewart, Aaron Holland, Stuart King, Gary Baird (sub Andrew Long 85), Lee Patrick, David Cushley (sub Gareth McConaghie 60), Randal Reid (sub Paul McNeill 50), Darren Fitzgerald.