Gerry Flynn's Newry side move up to sixth in the league table

Newry City had to endure a nervy finish before holding on to defeat bottom club Ballymena United in Monday's JJB Sports Irish Premiership clash.

Darren King struck Newry ahead on nine minutes and goals from strikers Chris Morgan (50) and Stephen Garrett (56) put the visitors 3-0 up.

Neil Teggart pulled a goal back on 66 minutes and the home striker then hammered in a 90th-minute free-kick.

Ballymena had further late pressure but Newry held on to claim a deserved win.

Former Ballymena goalkeeper Paul Murphy produced a smart save in the seventh minute to deny Kevin Kelbie.

However, Newry were in front two minutes later when King first-timed to the net from 12 yards after Sean Friars' speculative shot had deflected off Joe McDonnell.

After Ballymena's Albert Watson had been booked for a trip on Ross Black, Emmett Friars had a chance to add to Newry's lead but the defender's close-range header was straight at Alan Blayney.

Ballymena then came more into the game and the busy Stuart King tested Murphy while a Gavin Melaugh drive went inches over the bar.

Gary Haveron squandered a great chance to level on 39 minutes when he failed to connect with a corner.

Kelbie was lucky to stay on the pitch three minutes before the break when he received only a yellow card from referee Colin Burns after a dreadful two-footed lunge on Newry goalscorer King.

Roy Walker's side remain on the bottom of the Irish Premiership

Blayney produced a brilliant reaction save to deny Morgan two minutes after the break.

However, the former Southampton goalkeeper could do nothing three minutes later when Morgan produced a precise finish after Garrett had flicked on goalkeeper Murphy's free kick.

Kelbie had a chance to pull a goal back two minutes later but he shot straight at Murphy.

Ballymena were in big trouble on 56 minutes when Garrett produced a clever finish with the home defence caught napping yet again.

Garrett went close to adding a fourth on the hour but he pulled his shot across the face of goal.

Teggart gave Ballymena hope by heading King's free kick into the net on 66 minutes.

Garrett should have killed off Ballymena on 69 minutes after a poor Blayney clearance but the keeper blocked the striker's pointblank effort and Gary Haveron stopped the follow-up effort.

McDonnell then wasted a Ballymena chance while Newry's Alan Davidson fired straight at Blayney at the other end.

Teggart's free-kick piledriver from 30 yards in the final minute of normal time ensured a nervous finish for Newry.

The home side won a free-kick in a dangerous position in the third minute of injury-time but the hitherto impressive Stuart King completely overhit his delivery - much to Newry's relief.

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