Ballymena United booked their place in the next round of the League Cup with a 3-1 comeback victory over Newington Youth on Tuesday. The Premiership side, which sits sixth in the league with 15 points from a record of four wins, three draws, and four losses, responded quickly to a second-half deficit, scoring three times in the final 40 minutes to progress.
The tie turned in a frantic two-minute spell early in the second half. Newington Youth's Tully broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, putting the Championship side ahead. Their lead lasted just two minutes before Rutkowski levelled from the penalty spot for Ballymena. The game remained tight until a late surge from the visitors. McConnell put United ahead with four minutes of normal time remaining, and Edogun sealed the win with a goal in the 90th minute.
This result extends Ballymena's winning run to two games across all competitions, following a 2-1 league win over Crusaders last Friday where goals from J. Archer and K. Lyons-Fonder secured the points. Their recent form in the Premiership has been strong, with four wins and one loss from their last five outings, placing them sixth in the table with 15 points from 11 games. The team has scored 17 goals and conceded 15 this season, giving them a goal difference of plus two. They are, however, 16 points behind the league leaders, Coleraine FC.
Attention now turns to a tough Premiership assignment away to Glentoran this Saturday 24 October. Glentoran, who sit third, won the last meeting between the sides 2-0 in August. Ballymena will aim to carry their cup momentum into that league clash. This cup success follows a recent league sequence that includes a 2-0 win over Portadown, a 1-0 victory at Cliftonville FC, a 3-2 defeat at Limavady United, and a 1-1 draw with Dungannon Swifts.
