Ballymena United vs Strabane Athletic

The fixture was a one-sided affair from the start, with the gulf in division placing the result beyond doubt by half-time. Ballymena's second-half goals simply extended a margin that was already established. The visitors' best spell came in the opening 20 minutes when the game was still goalless, but they created no clear-cut chances according to available match data.

Fuad Sule — The 29-year-old midfielder, who was a deadline-day signing in the January window, provided the assist of the match. His range of passing and composure in midfield were evident throughout, as highlighted by the NIFL TV coverage.

Ballymena's collective attack — With six different players likely on the scoresheet (the club did not publish a full breakdown of goalscorers), the depth of Kearney's squad was on display. The Sky Blues rotated freely in the second half, giving minutes to trialists and new signings including Jonny Addis, who returned to the club in June after five seasons at Cliftonville.

Strabane's defence — Despite the heavy scoreline, the visitors' back line held firm for periods of the first half and showed organisation that will serve them in their own league campaign. The 6-0 defeat was a reality check against full-time opposition.

The provider payload does not include detailed statistics such as possession, shots or xG for this friendly. The 6-0 scoreline, however, tells a clear story of a team operating two tiers above its opponent. Ballymena's 2025/26 NIFL Premiership campaign ended with a ninth-place finish, while Strabane Athletic compete in the regional intermediate divisions. The gap in class was the defining factor.

This was Ballymena United's first pre-season fixture under manager Oran Kearney following a summer rebuild. Kearney announced eight departures in April 2026 (BBC Sport, 30 April 2026) and has since added John Gregg as first-team coach and re-signed Jonny Addis. The Sky Blues also played a second friendly on the same day, losing 1-2 to Loughgall in front of the same Showgrounds crowd.

Ballymena's pre-season continues with a trip to Moyola Park on 11 July 2026, followed by further friendlies ahead of the new NIFL Premiership season, which is expected to begin in August 2026. Strabane Athletic continue their own pre-season build-up for the intermediate league campaign.

A routine pre-season win for Ballymena United against overmatched opposition. The fixture served its purpose: fitness minutes for the squad, a clean sheet for the defence, and a glimpse of Sule's creative quality. The margin of victory was predictable given the gap in levels, and the real tests for Kearney's rebuild will come against stronger opposition in the weeks ahead.