Nathan McConnell grabbed what proved to be the first goal anywhere of the 2006/07 campaign after just four minutes when he sent home a volley from a Gerard McMahon free-kick.

And Glenavon made it 2-0 on 19 minutes after a McMahon cross-shot deflected off Nigel Boyd to completely wrong-foot keeper Paul Murphy.

Ballymena looked to have been handed a lifeline on the half-hour when they were awarded a penalty after Boyd's surge into the penalty area was ended by a mistimed challenge from Gavin McDonnell but Kevin Kelbie's spot kick hit high up on the post and cannoned back to safety.

Crucially, however, United did get a goal on the board four minutes before the break, when a well-worked move culminated in Darren Murphy's driven cross being guided home by the head of Garth Scates.

The early stages of the second half were scrappy but it was Ballymena who scored the vital next goal on 67 minutes. Paul Brown played the ball into Darren Murphy's feet just inside the Glenavon penalty area. The midfielder checked back inside onto his favoured left foot and lifted a magnificent curling effort beyond Paul Rice.

Within five minutes, Ballymena were in front for the first time when Murphy's free kick was headed home from close-range by Kelbie.

And incredibly, United scored a fourth on 78 minutes when Garth Scates' counter attack from inside his own half saw him release full-back Aaron Callaghan on the right and when his cross was fumbled by Rice, Mark Picking was on hand to bundle home his first goal for the club.