Maintaining current levels is new target for Sky Blues

It was a week which started, I had noted last week, with minimal interest in the League Cup quarter-final against Portadown as the focus of most fans was on the crunch league game with Ards.

Thank goodness the playing and coaching staff didn’t adopt a similarly far-sighted approach or else we would have missed out on one of the best United performances in recent years as they despatched a Portadown side who looked a pale shadow of the side which had impressed so much - but still lost - in their previous league fixture at the Showgrounds.

It lifted the mood around the Showgrounds so much, to the extent where I felt going into Saturday’s Ards game that, even given Ballymena’s propensity for slipping up after raising hopes, that supporters expected a win.

For two teams in the lower reaches of the table, it wasn’t exactly the nervy, cagey relegation six-pointer that might have been anticipated.

Both teams tackled the match with gusto and Ards were by no means the worst team I’ve witnessed this season but Ballymena produced a high energy performance which was particularly impressive for their response to conceding twice in just over 60 seconds.

The changes that have brought about Ballymena’s recent improvement have been subtle but crucially important.

Gary Thompson’s return to the form of the early part of last season has been a welcome boost - a midfielder who has an eye for goal is a welcome attribute in any team, not least one whose main area of weakness is at the top end of the pitch.

His performance in the 2-1 defeat at Cliftonville was particularly eye-catching, full of energy and endeavour and in the two games since, he has added to that by getting on the scoresheet three times.

His two-year contract extension - which incidently wasn’t some sort of knee-jerk reaction to him scoring twice on Saturday; the deal was completed before the game - is a good piece of business on Ballymena’s part.

You would have to imagine that, as Glenn Ferguson carefully hand-picks the players he wants to remain at the club, Tony Kane’s name would be fairly high up the list.

Kane is technically a very good footballer and his ability to spot - and execute - a pass means that he can slip into midfield from his normal right-back position.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up making midfield his regular slot as his career goes on, whether at Ballymena or somewhere else within the Irish League.

Then you’ve got the likes of Davy Munster and Mark Surgenor who, up until a few weeks ago, had started only a handful of games.

Two players who fall very much into the ‘unsung heroes’ category, their consistency and hard work allows the flair players to do their stuff.

But for me, the catalyst for the whole improvement remains Glenn Ferguson’s decision to play Allan Jenkins up front.

The skipper’s willingness to hurl himself in front of defenders’ clearance 80 yards from his own goal undoubtedly rubs off on his team-mates.

Ballymena will require similar levels of endeavour when they travel to Warrenpoint on Saturday but if they continue their present run of form, three points is not an unrealistic demand.

* Follow Ballymena Times Sports Editor Stephen Alexander on Twitter (@Stephen_Bmena).