Michael Glynn stands over a free-kick from 25 yards, but his strike is a disappointing one and crashes straight into the wall.

Dungannon force a flurry of corners which come to nothing.

It's been a tetchy opening at the Showgrounds with referee Ian McNabb forced to speak to a few players from each team in the early stages.

A quickly taken free-kick Carrick creates panic in the home defence, the ball cleared for a corner.

Home supporters get their first glimpse of what summer signing Zane Okoro is all about.

The on loan Lincoln City winger skips by his man on the near touchline before whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

No-one in a blue and white striped shirt on the end of the cross, though.

Corey Smith's free-kick has too much on it for everyone in a blue shirt as Glenavon try and respond to the early set-back quickly.

Eamon Fyfe cuts inside and tries his luck, but his strike is straight at PJ Morrison.

Ben Wyile latches onto Rayhaan Tulloch’s threaded pass and bursts into the box, but from a tight angle, he can only poke his finish into the side-netting.

Both the visitors and Jim Magilton’s men have carved out chances during a lively opening 10 minutes in north Belfast.

Elliot Dunlop's corner is palmed away by Jacob Carney with the Glenavon stopper called into action once again to clear Oli McCart's resulting set piece.

At the other end, Ballymena cleverly work an opening for Ben Kennedy but his long-range shot is held at the second attempt by Declan Dunne.

We have our first booking of the afternoon in the tenth minute.

Carrick Rangers midfielder Joe Crowe goes into the referee's notebook for a heavy tackle on Jamie Glackin inside the centre circle.

Luke Wilson is afforded far too much room to line up a strike from distance, the midfielder stepping forward and letting fly.

His effort has PJ Morrison scrambling, but whistles narrowly over the bar as the visitors threaten for the first time.

Dungannon are making the early running with a couple of half-chances inside a slippery penalty area but Ballymena are holding firm so far.

The resulting corner is recycled to Michael Glynn, whose right-footed strike arrows goalward.

It falls kindly to Jack Keaney just yards out, but the defender cannot connect cleanly, and Aaron McCarey gratefully smothers to relieve the pressure on the Ports.

Coleraine captain for the day, Kodi Lyons-Foster, will be relieved that Carrick fail to make the most of a dead ball on the edge of the penalty area.

It was his stray pass out of defence which led to Levi Ives giving away the free-kick in the first place.

Five minutes gone, and we have the first shot on goal.

Michael Glynn threads a clever ball into Joe Gormley on the edge of the area, the striker’s effort flicking off a defender before hitting the side-netting. That deflection brings the Reds the opening corner of the afternoon.

A free-kick in a dangerous position for the visitors.

Half-hearted claims for a penalty as Coleraine striker Declan McManus goes tumbling inside the Carrick Rangers penalty area.

Referee Ben McMaster waves play on.

Corey Smith has the first shot of the afternoon at Mourneview, but his effort from just outside the box is well over the crossbar.

Ryan McKay's corner to the back post comes to nothing.