McElroy strike puts Ballymena past Larne - as it happened

1. Ballymena United 2-1 Larne (Res)
2. David McDaid opens scoring on 51 minutes
3. Conor Keeley heads Ballymena level on 58 minutes before McElroy scores on 75 minutes
4. Larne can go third with victory
5. Ballymena are eighth but level on points with Glenavon
6. Watch live using the play button at the top of the page

The final whistle

That's all for this evening!

However, fear not! We can do it all again tomorrow with the remaining five Irish Premiership fixtures.

You can read the report from tonight's game here, and keep an eye out for highlights on the BBC Sport website!

See you then!

Presseye

FULL-TIME

It's all over at the Showgrounds!

On a freezing night it was fitting Paul McElroy's superb winner was the goal to warm the home support up.

HITS THE WOODWORK

Steven McCullough plays the ball to the back post and David Parkhouse rises highest but his header crashes off the crossbar.

Kenny Kane was lurking but the rebound is just out of his path. Close!

McElroy magic

Now that's composure!

Paul McElroy fires Ballymena in front

We've less than 10 minutes to go. Can Larne respond?

SUBSTITUTION

David Parkhouse makes his long-awaited return from a knee injury.

It's great to see the former Northern Ireland Under-21 striker back on the pitch.

Paul McElroy is the man to make way after a massive shift.

GOAL

Paul McElroy with a moment of magic!

Jordan Williamson pumps a long ball forward, it's flicked on and McElroy breaks into the area.

He could have hit it early, but he cuts back inside and curls a brilliant effort into the far corner.

It was route one but very, very effective.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Tiernan Lynch makes the first move.

Dean Jarvis, Thomas Oluwa and Lee Lynch come on as Larne make a triple substitution.

Ronan Hale, Graham Kelly and Ben Doherty are the three players to make way.

Conor Keeley makes no mistake to bring the Sky Blues level.

Conor Keeley heads home Ballymena's equaliser

Here's how McDaid gave Larne the lead - but it didn't last long!

Davy McDaid gives Larne the lead at The Showgrounds

That's Ross Redman's 100th assist in the Irish League. That's not bad going for a left back.

GOAL

Ballymena are level! Conor Keely heads home the resulting corner!

Ross Redman whips in a brilliant delivery into the six yard box and Keeley gets there ahead of Ferguson to power the Sky Blues level.

CLOSE!

Jude Winchester tries a speculative effort from 20 yards and Rohan Ferguson takes the safe option of tipping the ball over the top.

That's given the away support a bit of a lift and we're getting a bit of a sing song.

Now, what do Ballymena have in response?

GOAL

Larne make the breakthrough! It's David McDaid with the opener on 51 minutes!

Mark Randall finds Tomas Cosgrove down the right and he pulls the ball back to the edge of the area.

McDaid, who has barely been mentioned all game, races onto it and finds the bottom corner with a brilliant finish.

KICK-OFF

The players are back out. Things can only get better.

More to come

BBC

Colin Coates

Cliftonville defender on BBC Sport NI

As the half went on Ballymena grew into the game. They committed more men forward and on the flip side that afforded Larne more opportunities. I do feel as players start to tire space will open up for the creative players on both sides.

HALF-TIME

There's no additional time at the end of the half, which tells you everything you need to know.