Ben Kennedy scored a superb hat-trick as Ballymena United moved off the foot of the Irish Premiership with a well-earned 3-1 victory over Glenavon at the Showgrounds.
Meanwhile, Matthew Fitzpatrick bagged a double for Linfield but it wasn’t enough to see off a resolute Portadown at Shamrock Park, as Ryan Mayse scored in the 95th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Jim Ervin’s men moved ninth and leapfrog tonight’s opponents in the process, as an air of relief sailed over the Sky Blues at the final whistle.
Kennedy struck twice before Keith Ward grabbed one back, all before half-time. But Kennedy was to bag a third just after the restart to show his class and repay the faith shown in him by his new club.
After an entertaining start to the game at Warden Street, it was United who grabbed the opener after only 14 minutes.
Andy Scott made a break with the ball on the right flank before centring a superb cross into the box, and there was Kennedy to head home for the hosts.
Glenavon appeared stunned and relied on former Newry man Barney McKeown to stop Kennedy from adding a second soon after, however, his efforts were in vain, as the striker did double the home side’s lead just seven minutes later.
McKeown, again, attempted to clear the danger as Ballymena pushed forward, but his header flew straight to Kennedy, who controlled the ball and slotted past Gareth Deane with aplomb.
James Doona had the first attempt for the visitors minutes later, but his powerful strike from distance drifted just wide of the right-hand post. This appeared to spur the Lurgan Blues on, and they were rewarded with a goal of their own on 33 minutes.
Summer signing Ward with a curling free-kick from just outside the box. The ball hit the crossbar before deflecting off stopper Sam Johnston and crossing the line, much to the delight of the visiting crowd.
If the first half ended with Glenavon on the front foot, they suffered a hammer-blow just four minutes after the restart as that man Kennedy bagged his first hat-trick with the Sky Blues.
Jonny McMurray with a smart nod-down into the path of Kennedy, who made no mistake from close range to re-establish the two-goal cushion.
Both sides pushed for further goals thereafter, with United’s Calvin McMurray turning to celebrate his shot which looked goal bound, only to trickle wide of the upright at the last second.
Ward remained the main threat for the Lurgan side but could not find a way back into the game, and as the final whistle went, the relief was palpable in the Showgrounds, not least in the home dugout.
Linfield were made to sweat for their win in Co Armagh. The Blues failed to push on from Fitzpatrick’s sixth-minute opener, when he turned in a Chris McKee cross from close range.
Ahu Obhakhan made them pay on 38 minutes with a well-deserved equaliser. The striker got on the end of a Steven McCullough cross.
However, David Healy’s men looked like they had snatched a win, when Fitzpatrick struck again on 70 minutes, slotting home after a neat through-ball. But, Niall Currie’s men blew the roof off Shamrock, when Mayse hammered in a half-volley from outside the box.