Ballymena United 3, Glenavon 6

Glenavon's Mark Farren and Ballymena's Johnny Taylor tussle for possession. Picture: Press Eye.

The shell-shocked Sky Blues were hit by four first half goals as their season got off to the worst possible opening.

United conceded a goal within seven minutes when Guy Bates collected a long clearance from keeper Andy Coleman. United keeper Dwayne Nelson had advanced from his line to close down the striker but Bates’ shot deflected off the outstretched leg of defender Johnny Taylor and looped over the back-pedalling Nelson.

Ballymena gradually began to gain a foothold in the game and had a number of opportunities to equalise, with Coleman acrobatically tipping over an Alan Davidson volley while Gary Liggett, at full stretch, scooped Alan Teggart’s cross wide from two yards out.

But United conceded a second goal on 26 minutes when Bates rose unchallenged to head home Gareth McKeown’s long throw.

Worse was to follow on the half hour as Andy McGrory’s shot fell at the feet of William Murphy and the veteran defender fired past an exposed Nelson.

And a catastrophic eight-minute spell for United was completed when Mark Farren turned and fired home a fourth Glenavon goal.

United were given fresh hope within 46 seconds of the second half when Neil Lowry found the bottom corner of the net with an angled drive.

And when Gary Thompson volleyed home from Stephen McBride’s left-wing cross, United supporters started to believe their team could pull off the unthinkable.

But the comeback came to a shuddering halt with eight minutes left when Farren fired under Nelson for Glenavon’s fifth.

And the Lurgan Blues rubbed salt in United’s wounds when Andy McGrory headed home after Nelson had palmed out Bates’ shot.

United had the final say as Johnny Taylor headed home from Alan Teggart’s corner but it was little consolation after a chastening defeat.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, Stewart, Taylor, McBride, Thompson (sub Ruddy 85), Davidson, Jenkins, Teggart, Liggett (sub Surgenor 46), Lowry (sub Gawley 83). Subs (not used): McCullagh, McCabe.

Glenavon: Coleman, McKeown, McCallion, Murphy (sub Lindsay 80), Kilmartin, Martyn (sub Hagan 69), McGrory, Patton (sub Rainey 78), Bates, Farren. Subs (not used): Hamilton, Singleton.

Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast).