Irish Premiership: Ballymena Utd 3-0 Institute
Last updated on .From the section Football
Three first-half goals helped Ballymena to a comfortable win over basement club Institute at the Showgrounds, their first league victory since Boxing Day.
Gary McCutcheon scored an 18th-minute penalty after Gary Thompson had been fouled by Stephen O'Donnell.
Allan Jenkins slotted home from inside the box after 26 minutes and Eamon McAllister headed in the third on 38 for his first goal for his new club.
The result condemned Institute to their 16th consecutive game without a win.
Institute enjoyed the best of the early exchanges but McCutcheon gave the Sky Blues the boost they needed when he sent Marty Gallagher the wrong way from the spot.
Jenkins added the second after Thompson's free-kick had been pulled back into the path of the home skipper by McAllister.
Jenkins headed wide when well placed and then played a part in creating the third, his initial shot being saved by Gallagher, before McAllister reacted quickest to score.
In the second half, Tim Allen produced a fine save from Robbie Hume's sweetly struck left-foot shot and Johnny Taylor saw his header denied by the legs of Gallagher.
