Win double for Reserves
During the week, the Reserves came from 2-1 down to defeat Lisburn Distillery II 4-2 in their opening league game.
Despite Aaron Boyd’s 17th minute opener, United trailed 2-1 at the break before Neil Lowry levelled matters shortly after the interval.
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Hide AdA superb individual goal from Michael Smith put Ballymena ahead shortly after the hour mark and Ballykeel teenager Lowry completed the victory with his second goal 12 minutes from time.
Reserves: Nelson, Price, Munster, Gage, Reid, Murray, Black, Carson, Smith, Boyd, Lowry. Subs: Quigley (80), Davidson (65), McKee (73), Harris.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Reserves progressed to the second round of the Steel & Sons Cup with a 3-2 extra-time win over Amateur League Donard Hospital.
With nine 17-year-olds in the starting line-up, the Reserves fell behind but Jamie Davidson restored parity early in the second half.
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Hide AdA 30-yard Donard strike with 12 minutes left looked as though it might spell the end of the Reserves’ cup dreams but when a corner was only half-cleared, centre-back Craig McDowell fired in an unstoppable volley from the end of the box to take the tie to extra-time.
There, Paddy Deboys, like McDowell a product of United associate club Carniny Youth, slotted past the on-rushing keeper for what proved the winner, while Denver Gage hit the crossbar late on.
Reserves: Maybin, Harris (sub Gillan 67), Gage, McDowell, Agnew, McKee, Fleming, Reid, Davidson (sub Deboys 78), Lowry, Smith (sub Price 35). Subs (not used): C Gillan, Duffin.