Just over 10 minutes gone and the pattern’s clear.

The Inver Reds are content to keep the ball and probe patiently, while the hosts sit deep, organised, and ready to break on the counter.

It's already set up to be a fascinating tactical battle between Gary Haveron and Jim Ervin.

Patrick McEleney’s free-kick is straight into the grateful hands of Rohan Ferguson.

A waste, really, with plenty of Sky Blue shirts waiting in the box.

More bright play from Larne as Conor McKendry darts past Matthew Clarke down the right, but his low cross into the box is hacked clear.

The visitors have started with real intent and are looking a threat in the opening exchanges.

James Simpson rises to meet Conor McKendry’s resulting corner, but the winger’s glancing header flashes across the face of goal and somehow evades everyone inside the six-yard area.

James Simpson slides it across from the left to Paul O’Neill, who drives through midfield and unleashes a fierce strike from range, forcing Sean O’Neill into a fingertip save to turn it over for a corner.

Referee Ross Dunlop blows to get us under way at the Ballymena Showgrounds

Can Jim Ervin's men bring a halt to their recent slump, or will the away side close in on second-placed Glentoran?

Jim Ervin names an unchanged Ballymena United side from the 2-1 defeat to Linfield as the Sky Blues bid to arrest a slump of four losses in their last five league games.

Gary Haveron, meanwhile, makes three alterations to the Larne team that drew 1-1 with Bangor.

James Simpson, Leroy Millar and Paul O’Neill are named in the starting XI, with Sean Graham, Dan Bent and Matty Lusty dropping to the substitutes bench.

Ballymena United: S. O'Neill, Nelson, Toure, McEleney, D. O'Connor, Clarke, McCurry, Edogun, McCallion, Corbally, Hood.

Subs: Breen, Lafferty, Gould, O'Donnell, O'Reilly, Thompson, Taylor.

Larne: Ferguson, Ridley, Donnelly, Gallagher, McKendry, Randall, P. O'Neill, T. O'Connor, Millar, Cosgrove, Simpson.

Subs: Graham, Magee, McEnuff, Bent, Lusty, Austin, Wallace.

Image source, BBC Sport

Watch highlights as Linfield beat Ballymena United 2-1 in the Irish Premiership at Windsor Park.

Larne manager Gary Haveron said the 1-1 draw with Bangor at Inver Park was "bitterly disappointing".

Bangor broke the deadlock after just nine minutes when Ben Arthurs converted the rebound off Michael Morgan's shot.

The Inver Reds dominated the match, but it took until the 63rd minute for them to level in style through Conor McKendry.

"Two points dropped, very much so," Haveron told BBC Sport NI.

"We gave them a foothold in the game. We gave them an early goal, which was bitterly disappointing because we talked about what they were going to do all week.

"We changed it a little bit early in the second half, and we had enough chances today to win plenty of games. So, coming away with a point, that feels bitterly disappointing."

Image source, Inpho

Watch highlights as Bangor and Larne play out a 1-1 draw at Inver Park after Ben Arthurs' first half strike was cancelled out by Conor McKendry.

Stay with us as we bring you live text commentary from the Ballymena Showgrounds, where Ballymena welcome Larne.

Colin Coates
Former Glenavon first team coach on Sportsound

The second half opened the game up for Dungannon and they ran riot.

It's been a difficult day for Crusaders again off the back of last week and it's a tough time for them at the minute.

Watch as Paul McGovern scores a stylish consolation goal for Glenavon at the Coleraine Showgrounds.

Sean Ward
BBC Sport NI pundit

Coleraine were excellent, they look strong all over the park.

They have shown during the week that they have character and they also have so much talent.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Watch as quick-fire goals from Levi Ives and Joel Cooper added to Coleraine's tally after Glenavon stopper Mark Byrne had been dismissed.

There has been plenty of action at the Coleraine Showgrounds in the final 10 minutes of the match, but watch how Matthew Shevlin made it 3-0.

It's all over at the Showgrounds where Coleraine have defeated 10 men Glenavon 5-1, thanks in part to a Joel Cooper hat-trick.

Cooper opened the scoring for the home side just before the break before doubling the lead six minutes after the restart.

Matthew Shevlin made it 3-0 with 20 minutes remaining following an assist from Zane Okoro before Levi Ives made it 4-0 with his first goal for the club in the 84th minute.

Two minutes later Cooper completed his hat-trick with a spectacular long range effort past stand-in Glenavon keeper Harry Murphy who donned the gloves following the sending off of Mark Byrne following a foul on Cooper.

Glenavon grabbed a goal back with a fine individual effort from Paul McGovern on the stroke of full-time but it was little consolation for the visitors.

Dungannon Swfits come away with the three points after a relentless attacking display in the second-half.

Rodney McAree will be pleased by his side's performance.

Declan Caddell will see positives in Crusaders' defending throughout despite the defeat.

Watch how substitute Andrew Mitchell gave Dungannon a more comfortable advantage at Stangmore Park.

Into three additional minutes.