Stephen Dooley created the first effort of note in what was ultimately to be a scoreless first half when, on nine minutes, he was denied by a crucial Muir tackle just as he was about to shoot while, from the resultant corner, Paddy McLaughlin turned the ball over.

Later in the half Ryan McLaughlin failed to convert a free header from a Tommy McCallion delivery while, for the visitors, Michael Smith and David Cushley failed to find the target in the difficult, blustery conditions.

Kevin Kelbie came closest to finding a way through early in the second half when he forced O'Hare into a superb one-handed save.

Ballymena did have the ball in the net on 69 minutes but Kelbie's free-kick was ruled out after Thomas Wray had impeded O'Hare.

However, the deadlock was finally broken ten minutes from time when, from a Mark Picking corner, Muir headed United into the lead at the back post.