Gary Boyle delighted Newry City went back to basics to see off Ballymena United

Ballymena United 0 Newry City 2

Adam Salley celebrates scoring

It was a case of going back to basics for Newry as they ended a run of six League games without a win to claim all three points in this basement battle at the Ballymena Showgrounds.

A 19th minute unchallenged back post header by Adam Salley and a curling right foot shot into the far corner of the net six minutes from time by substitute Lee Newell were the difference in a low quality affair against a shot-shy home side.

“We have played some really good sides recently and had a go but haven’t looked defensively solid, as we had done in pre-season, so we wanted to get back to basics and, while we had a good defensive display on Tuesday (against H&W Welders), we didn’t get the clean sheet. But to a man I thought we defended well in the box today,” said Newry boss Gary Boyle after his side’s third away win of the season.

“There wasn’t a lot of quality from either team but the characteristics of what we are looking for in performance were there in abundance.

“Adam Salley has been super and he is getting his just reward with his goals, while we know Lee has that quality, it was a fantastic strike, and delighted for him coming off the bench to make such a positive impact.”

Salley’s header from a Adam Carroll cross was Newry’s only effort on goal until Sean O’Neill produced a fine fingertip save to divert a Ciaran O’Connor shot onto the post in the 43rd minute, but Ballymena had offered just as little at the other end with Johnny McMurray, their lone forward, shooting just wide after a good break, their only threat on the visitors’ goal in the first half.

Newry were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Corrie Burns was shown a second yellow card but Ballymena