Ballymena United manager Jim Ervin says his game plan ‘worked a treat’ and praised the performance of match winner Ben Kennedy after his side defeated defending league champions Larne 1-0 at Inver Park.
Kennedy’s decisive goal came on the 85th minute when Josh Carson‘s corner, which was missed by Larne stopper Rohan Ferguson, was headed home by the Ballymena striker from close range.
“We have now shown what we are capable of,” Ervin told BBC Sport NI.
“We worked desperately hard all week, obviously we had the game Tuesday night, we recovered Thursday, and we set our stall out and the game plan worked a treat.
“To a man, they gave me absolutely everything. Every one of them did their jobs and they did it tremendously well and we have got our rewards for it, so I am absolutely over the moon for the boys.
“To come to Inver Park and get three points is nothing short of incredible.”
New signing Kennedy has now netted five goals so far this league campaign after joining the Sky Blues from Crusaders in the summer and scored a hat-trick last weekend against Glenavon.
“Ben is a threat from set plays, as he showed today,” Ervin continued.
“That’s why we brought Ben to the football club, he is a match winner and today he has shown that.
“I thought his performance was super, he probably did more defending today than he wanted to, but my word did he put on a performance.”