Striker Kevin Kelbie scored the opener for Ballymena

United keeper Paul Murphy made two good saves while Distillery defender Paul Muir hit the crossbar on 44 minutes.

Kevin Kelbie's toe-poked finish gave Ballymena a 50th minute lead and David Cushley made it 2-0 with a glancing header nine minutes later.

Whites midfielder Ryan McCann was sent-off on 79 for an elbow offence.

Murphy tipped over a Muir header after three minutes before pushing away a fierce strike from Andrew Waterworth 14 minutes later.

Muir went closest for Paul Kirk's team when his free-kick skimmed the top of the United crossbar.

Ballymena made a superb start to the second half and Wayne Buchanan was forced into a goal-line clearance to keep out a Garth Scates lob.

Cushley saw his shot clip the bar before Kelbie put United ahead five minutes after the break.

Gavin Melaugh flicked on from a Scates cross and Kelbie, despite failing to control the ball, managed to prod it past keeper Philip Matthews.

Stephen Lowry was the provider for the the second goal, his cross met by the head of Cushley at the back post.

McCann was dismissed by referee Arnold Hunter after appearing to elbow Lowry.

The fixture had to be rearranged because of a floodlight failure when it was originally staged on 1 December.