Glenavon 1
Ballymena United 1
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Match Report

Igor Rutkowski's late leveller earned Ballymena United a draw at Mourneview Park on Saturday, as the Sky Blues brought the curtain down on their pre-season programme with a competitive workout against Glenavon.

With the new campaign now only days away, both sides approached the fixture with an edge that belied its friendly status. Michael O'Connor's Glenavon, preparing for life in the Boyle Sports Championship following relegation last season, were quick out of the traps and made the running for long spells of a first half in which the hosts asked plenty of questions of the United back line.

The breakthrough arrived on 36 minutes, and it came from a familiar face. Ryan Waide found a pocket of space, broke clear of the visiting defence and dispatched a low finish underneath David Walsh to send the home support into the interval in good voice.

Second half pressure from the Sky Blues eventually told with four minutes of normal time remaining. Igor Rutkowski arrived to steer home the equaliser on 86 minutes, a goal that was no more than United deserved.

There was still time for both sides to look for a winner in a lively finish, but honours ended even at the end of an afternoon that gave both managers plenty to work with ahead of the serious business starting next week.

Match report written by BUFC History