Irish Premiership: Linfield 13 points clear as keeper nets in Glentoran win
Ballymena almost took the lead within 10 minutes at Lakeview Park when Scott broke down the right wing and his low cross met Josh Carson’s first-time shot. But Loughgar goalkeeper Nathan Gartside made a brilliant instinctive save to divert the ball. The ball missed the post.
Loughgall took the lead in the 14th minute when Tovey fired the ball from distance and into the net past Sean O’Neill.
But Ballymena’s reaction was quick, with Scott exploiting the hesitation between defenders Lewis Francis and Nathan Gartside to deftly lift the ball over the embattled goalkeeper.
Ballymena went ahead in first-half stoppage time when Gartside produced a brilliant interception of Kennedy’s header from Carson’s corner, but McCurry alertly converted the rebound into the goal.
Eight minutes after the restart, United doubled their lead when Carson provided a fine back-heel for Kennedy to fire a shot between Gartside’s legs.
But Carson’s afternoon ended abruptly before the end of the game when he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Nathaniel Ferris.
Loughgar reduced the deficit four minutes later when Ballymena defender McCallion cleared the ball into his own net under pressure from Jay Boyd.
With eight minutes left, Ballymena were reduced to nine men when Kennedy was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Jamie Rea, but Ballymena held off Lovegar in the closing stages Under huge pressure, the home team is still 6 points behind the bottom.
