Ards 2, Ballymena United 0

Ballymena United's Mark McCullagh tussles with Ards' Neil Dougan at Dixon Park.

Spectacular goals in each half from Ben Roy and Willie Faulkner gave the Danske Bank Premiership new boys their first points since promotion with a fully-deserved win against a listless United.

In a low-key opening, it took 17 minutes for either side to muster a shot with Tony Kane’s free kick from 20 yards held at the second attempt by keeper Graeme McKibben.

In a first half which was short on quality, the one moment of note came on 32 minutes when from a throw in from the left, the ball was laid back to Ben Roy who fired a spectacular shot into the top corner of Dwayne Nelson’s goal.

Ballymena struggled to make any impression in the opening half and the closest they came to forging an equaliser was when Neal Gawley slipped a pass into the path of Alan Teggart, but the winger was tackled by Gary Spence just as he was about to shoot, with keeper McKibben clearing the danger.

Ards continued to look dangerous going forward with former Ballymena striker Paul McDowell firing a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Ballymena started the second half in similarly sluggish fashion and from a quick counter-attack left-back Kyle McDowell’s cross-shot beat Nelson but went narrowly past the far post, with Paul McDowell just unable to get a touch.

The adventurous left-back also forced Nelson to make a save from his long-range drive shortly afterwards.

Ballymena brought on Gary Liggett for the ineffectual Gawley but it didn’t add any further cutting edge to Ballymena’s attack.

United fashioned their best opening when Alan Davidson exchanged passes with Dolan on the edge of the penalty area but the midfielder could only shoot straight at McKibben when well-placed.

And within 60 seconds Ards had doubled their lead when Willie Faulkner surged past Stephen McBride on the right flank and unleashed a rising angled drive past Nelson and into the top corner.

Ards: McKibben, Gibson, Spence, Armstrong (sub Hunter 68), McDowell, McMillen, Henderson (sub Smith 46), Cully, Roy (sub Faulkner 46), McDowell, Dougan. Subs (Not used): McClelland, Arthurs.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, McCullagh, Taylor, McBride (sub Lowry 82), Thompson, Jenkins, Davidson, Dolan, Teggart, Gawley (sub Liggett 61). Subs (not used): Stewart, Taggart, Ruddy.

Referee@ John Deighan (Limavady)