Philip Lowry created the first effort of note on ten minutes when he tested Dwayne Nelson with a low shot after Jamie Mulgrew had dummied the ball.

But, in a game of few chances, the next scoring opportunity didn't arrive until the 38th minute when United skipper Gary Haveron directed a header just wide from a Gary Muir corner.

The deadlock was broken, though, on 50 minutes when the ball broke for Lowry inside the area for the 20-year-old to fire into the corner of the net from close range.

Andy Smith might have levelled for the visitors just after the hour but his effort was well saved by Alan Blayney at the post.

At the other end Mulgrew created an opening for himself on the edge of the area although Nelson was equal to his curling effort.

Mulgrew then played Paul Munster clear as the Blues looked to kill the game off but his finish proved fruitless while a later Munster effort was kept out by a superb one handed save.