Ballymena United3–3Glenavon

A BIZZARRE game at the Showgrounds saw ten-man Ballymena United surrender a three goal lead against Glenavon.

Much like last week the Sky Blues took little time to open the scoring - little over 72 seconds were on the clock when Gary McCutcheon pounced to swivel home Allan Jenkins knock-down past the stunned Andy Coleman.

The United faithful barely had time to catch a breath as they doubled their lead with five minutes elapsed; good work from McCutcheon released Ally Teggart who drilled a low cross across the face of goal and Jordan Baker drilled the ball home from close range for his second goal in two appearances since his move from Portadown.

On 32 minutes, things just continued to get better for United, playing in front of their home support for the first time this season, as Jonny Magee fouled captain Allan Jenkins in the penalty area and Gary McCutcheon took no hesitation in dispatching the resulting penalty kick, sending Coleman the wrong way for his fourth goal of the season.

A minute later it was on the verge of turning into a rout as former Glenavon forward James Costello found space in the area but drilled his shot straight at the goalkeeper with the goal at his mercy in what was a quiet afternoon for the striker.

The comeback started on 37 minutes out of nothing when defender Mark Haughey rose highest to head Niall Henderson's corner off the underside of the crossbar.

The game was turned on its head just two minutes later when United failed to clear David Magee's cross and former United favourite Kevin Kelbie, deadly as ever in the penalty area, turned Chris Rodgers and fired home an unstoppable low drive past Aaron Kerr for his first goal for the Lurgan Blues and also reduce the deficit to one goal.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Kelbie was involved again in one of the game's main talking points as his poorly timed challenge on United's Mark Surgenor resulted in the Broughshane based player being carried off the pitch in a stretcher with onlookers fearing the worse. It was later confirmed despite speculation that Surgenor had NOT broken his leg.

The frantic first half was succeeded by a slower and more conservative second period with United making the early runnings as Chris Rodgers broke free down the right but seen his effort parried away by Coleman early in the half.

The game took another twist as debutant Aaron Black, who had replaced the injured Surgenor, seen red for a second yellow card after only 10 minutes on the pitch.

Glenavon then began to pile on the pressure and both had an effort ruled out for offside from Haughey and also Jonny Magee smashed an effort against the crossbar with the home defence well beaten.

United held out until the 87th minute when some abysmal Ballymena defending compounded by Ross Black's inexcusable back heel allowed Kelbie to feed the ball through to Henderson who finished coolly to finish a remarkable turnaround for Marty Quinn's side.