Northern Ireland - NIFL PremiershipData current as of 12 September 2026

Ballymena United vs Larne: match statistics

Ballymena United crest
Ballymena United
0 : 2half-time 0:2
Larne crest
Larne
120%(5.25)
X25%(3.70)
255%(1.53)

As the league leader with a 64% away win rate, Larne presents decidedly higher form than Ballymena United, who sit in 10th place with just 31% wins at home. The visitors have a significantly better goal difference in away matches (+11 difference) compared to the hosts' neutral balance in home games (0). Larne records higher average xG (1.52 vs 1.29) and better scoring efficiency, confirming their offensive superiority. In the last 5 matches, Ballymena earned just 0.8 points per game, while Larne maintains a more stable form with 1.0 points per game. The difference in squad quality and current form point to a probable victory for the visitors, although the home ground gives Ballymena some chance for a surprise or a draw.

Ballymena United vs Larne: form, goals and key statistics

Key match information

Ballymena United played Larne in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match was played on 28 February 2026. Final score: 0:2.

Current form

Ballymena United: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match. Larne: 1-2-2, 1.00 points/match.

Goal statistics

Ballymena United scores 1.17 and concedes 1.52 goals per match. Larne scores 1.77 and concedes 0.70. League average: 2.89 goals.

BTTS / Over / Under

BTTS: Ballymena United 48%, Larne 43%. Over 2.5: Ballymena United 45%, Larne 47%. League level: BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.

xG, shots and style

Larne has higher xG: 1.63 vs 1.15. Ballymena United: 8.7 shots per match, Larne: 13.1.

Match halves

Ballymena United: half-time lead 21%, second-half goals 0.69. Larne: half-time lead 43%, second-half goals 1.00.

Goals by minute

Ballymena United: 61-75 (9 goals). Larne: 76-90+ (17 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.

League context

NIFL Premiership: 2.89 goals per match, BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.

Head-to-head

Before this fixture, 2 previous H2H matches were available: 0-0-2. Average goals 2.00, BTTS 0%.

Archived pre-match analysis

This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.

General match analysis

As the league leader with a 64% away win rate, Larne presents decidedly higher form than Ballymena United, who sit in 10th place with just 31% wins at home. The visitors have a significantly better goal difference in away matches (+11 difference) compared to the hosts' neutral balance in home games (0). Larne records higher average xG (1.52 vs 1.29) and better scoring efficiency, confirming their offensive superiority. In the last 5 matches, Ballymena earned just 0.8 points per game, while Larne maintains a more stable form with 1.0 points per game. The difference in squad quality and current form point to a probable victory for the visitors, although the home ground gives Ballymena some chance for a surprise or a draw.

View the statistical overview

Half-by-half

0 : 2
1st half
0 : 0
2nd half

Match statistics

48Possession (%)52
Ballymena UnitedLarne
6Shots8
Ballymena UnitedLarne
2Shots on target4
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0.81xG1.1
Ballymena UnitedLarne
2Corners3
Ballymena UnitedLarne
39Dangerous attacks42
Ballymena UnitedLarne
12Fouls20
Ballymena UnitedLarne
2Cards0
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Pre-match profilewhat do the season numbers say?

This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.

Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.17Goals scored / match1.77
Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.52Goals conceded / match0.7
Ballymena UnitedLarne
45%Average possession54%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
3.14Shots on target / match5
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Team statswho is more efficient?

Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.

8.66Shots per match13.07
Ballymena UnitedLarne
3.14Shots on target5
Ballymena UnitedLarne
13.5%Shot conversion13.5%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
45%Possession54%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.15xG for1.63
Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.56xG against1.09
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Shooting quality

Ballymena United: Counter-attackingLarne: Efficient finishing
Ballymena UnitedLarne
Accuracy (shots on target)36%38%
Chance quality (xG per shot)0.130.12
Finishing (goals per shot on target)0.370.35

xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.

* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.

Team formwho is in better shape?

Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.

Larne is 25% better for: last-5 form.

0.8 pts / match - Ballymena United · 1 pts / match - Larne

Ballymena United
LLWLD
Season result split
28% W17% D55% L
Season (W-D-L)
8-5-16
1.00 pts / match · goal difference -10
Last 5 (W-D-L)
1-1-3
0.80 pts / match
Record at home (W-D-L)
4-4-5
Last 5 at home
2-3-0
DWDWD
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 1.2Goals conceded: 1.4xG: 0.80Opponent xG: 1.92BTTS: 60%Over 2.5: 60%
Larne
WDLLD
Season result split
63% W23% D13% L
Season (W-D-L)
19-7-4
2.13 pts / match · goal difference +32
Last 5 (W-D-L)
1-2-2
1.00 pts / match
Record away (W-D-L)
9-2-3
Last 5 away
3-1-1
WWDWL
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 2.0Goals conceded: 2.0xG: 1.60Opponent xG: 1.44BTTS: 100%Over 2.5: 80%

Goalshow do both teams score and concede?

How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.

Larne is 51% better for: goals scored per match.

1.17 goals / match - Ballymena United · 1.77 goals / match - Larne

Larne is 117% better for: goals conceded per match.

1.52 goals / match - Ballymena United · 0.7 goals / match - Larne

Ballymena United scoring profile: mixed

Ballymena United scores in 69% of matches (20 of 29 matches), while Larne keeps a clean sheet in 50% (15 of 30 matches).

Larne scoring profile: very strong

Larne scores in 83% of matches (25 of 30 matches), while Ballymena United keeps a clean sheet in 21% (6 of 29 matches).

34Goals scored (season)53
Ballymena UnitedLarne
44Goals conceded (season)21
Ballymena UnitedLarne
2.69Average goals in match2.47
Ballymena UnitedLarne
6Goals scored (last 5)10
Ballymena UnitedLarne
7Goals conceded (last 5)10
Ballymena UnitedLarne

How often they score at least...

69%1 goal83%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
38%2 goals60%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
7%3 goals20%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
3%4 goals13%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

How often they concede at least...

79%1 goal50%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
62%2 goals17%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
10%3 goals3%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0%4 goals0%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.

Both teams scored (BTTS)how often do both teams score?

How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.

48%
Ballymena United - BTTSBTTS - percentage of matches where both teams scored.14 of 29 matches
51%
League average

Goal patterns

24%BTTS at half-time17%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
7%BTTS in both halves7%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
31%Scored in both halves27%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

BTTS and goal count

41%Min. 3 goals and BTTS33%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
3%Min. 3 goals without BTTS13%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
60%BTTS - last 5100%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Goal count (Over/Under)how often do these matches cross the goal lines?

How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.

1st half

83%Min. 1 goal before half-time67%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
41%Min. 2 goals before half-time40%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
3%Min. 3 goals before half-time13%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

2nd half

83%Min. 1 goal after half-time73%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
45%Min. 2 goals after half-time37%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
7%Min. 3 goals after half-time17%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Match halveswhen do the teams score more often?

How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.

Larne is 70% better for: first-half form (half-time points).

1 pts / match - Ballymena United · 1.7 pts / match - Larne

Ballymena United - half-time state
21% leading38% draw41% trailing
Larne - half-time state
43% leading40% draw17% trailing

Before half-time (1st half)

1Points per match (1st half)1.7
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0.48Goals scored (1st half)0.77
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0.79Goals conceded (1st half)0.43
Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.28Average goals (1st half)1.2
Ballymena UnitedLarne
38%Clean sheet before half-time70%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
55%No goal before half-time47%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

After half-time (2nd half)

1.24Points per match (2nd half)1.9
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0.69Goals scored (2nd half)1
Ballymena UnitedLarne
0.72Goals conceded (2nd half)0.27
Ballymena UnitedLarne
1.41Average goals (2nd half)1.27
Ballymena UnitedLarne
45%Clean sheet after half-time73%
Ballymena UnitedLarne
45%No goal after half-time43%
Ballymena UnitedLarne

Ballymena United - second-half results

28% W41% D31% L
29
Half-time points
14
Half-time goals
-9
Goal difference (1st half)
36
Second-half points
-1
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.00
PPG before half-time
Lead holding133%

Leads at half-time in 21% of matches and wins 28%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time-0.1

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Larne - second-half results

53% W30% D17% L
51
Half-time points
23
Half-time goals
+10
Goal difference (1st half)
57
Second-half points
+22
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.70
PPG before half-time
Lead holding147%

Leads at half-time in 43% of matches and wins 63%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time-0.2

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Ballymena United - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match0.601.20
Goals scored / match0.40.8
Goals conceded / match0.80.6
Average goals in match1.21.4
1 goal80%80%
2 goals40%60%
3 goals0%0%
Clean sheet20%40%
No goal60%40%
Goal difference-2+1
Half-time: 0% leading - 60% draw - 40% trailing
2nd half: 20% won - 60% draw - 20% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 40% - Half-time goals total: 2
Larne - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match1.401.60
Goals scored / match1.01.0
Goals conceded / match1.40.6
Average goals in match2.41.6
1 goal100%80%
2 goals80%60%
3 goals60%20%
Clean sheet20%40%
No goal20%40%
Goal difference-2+2
Half-time: 40% leading - 20% draw - 40% trailing
2nd half: 40% won - 40% draw - 20% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 60% - Half-time goals total: 5

* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.

Goals by minutewhen do goals arrive?

Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.

Ballymena United
ScoredConceded
4
8
0-15
4
6
16-30
6
9
31-45
6
5
46-60
9
4
61-75
5
12
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (9 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (12). Late-goal balance (76-90): -7 - late phases are a weakness.

Larne
ScoredConceded
6
1
0-15
7
5
16-30
10
7
31-45
10
6
46-60
3
0
61-75
17
2
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (17 goals). Concedes most in 31-45 (7). Late-goal balance (76-90): +15 - wins late phases.

* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.

Additional team indicatorswhat do xG, efficiency and form show?

A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.

Match profile

2.58
Estimated goals
attack vs opponent defence
0.9 : 1.6
Estimated goal split
home : away
89%
Pace vs league
100% = league average
46%
Both teams scored (BTTS)
average from both teams' seasons
-22%
Derby effect
H2H goals vs typical matches
57%
BTTS estimate
from both teams' scoring frequency
5%
0:0 risk
about 1 in 20 matches
2-3
Most common goal range
attack vs defence on both sides

Ballymena United

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
-0.41
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.06
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-3.5 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.02
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.04
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
75%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
115%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
-0.20
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.2
Late goals
15% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 12% come in the first quarter-hour.
15%

Larne

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
+0.54
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.53
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-13.8 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.14
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.39
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
134%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
45%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
-1.13
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.2
Late goals
32% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 11% come in the first quarter-hour.
32%

* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.

League contextis this a high-scoring league?

How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).

Teams vs league

Ballymena UnitedLigaLarne
Average goals in match 2.692.89 2.47
Both teams scored 48%51% 43%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) 45%55% 47%
Clean sheets 21%26% 50%
Goal before half-time 83%77% 67%
Goal after half-time 83%78% 73%

^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.

2.89
Average goals per match
51%
Both teams scored
55%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5)
26%
Clean sheets
1.57
Home goals / match
1.32
Away goals / match
+19%
Home attack advantage
+16%
Home defence advantage
+14%
Total home advantage
Goals in 1st half (whole league)
77%
1 goal
38%
2 goals
11%
3 goals
3%
4 goals
Goals in 2nd half (whole league)
78%
1 goal
49%
2 goals
22%
3 goals
7%
4 goals

Lineups and player events

Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.

Match timeline

Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.

  1. LarneGoalAndrew Ryan
  2. LarneGoalAndrew Ryan
  3. Ballymena UnitedRed cardSuccess Edogun
  4. Ballymena UnitedSubstitutionOn: Igor RutkowskiOff: Joel Thompson
  5. LarneSubstitutionOn: Paul O'NeillOff: Matthew Lusty
  6. Ballymena UnitedSubstitutionOn: Jack O'ReillyOff: Fuad Sule
  7. Ballymena UnitedSubstitutionOn: Calvin McCurryOff: Dean Ebbe

Referee and managers

Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.

Referee context

See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.

Tim MarshallMatches officiated: 13
2.92Cards per match
0Penalties per match
1 / X / 246%Home wins0%Draws54%Away wins

Head-to-head

Recent meetings (2): Ballymena United 0 - 0 - 2 Larne. Average goals 2.00, both teams scored in 0% matches.

Ballymena United FC
0 : 2
Larne FC
Larne FC
2 : 0
Ballymena United FC

FAQ

What was the result of Ballymena United vs Larne?

The NIFL Premiership match finished Ballymena United 0:2 Larne. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.

What is the head-to-head record between Ballymena United and Larne?

In the last 2 head-to-head matches Ballymena United won 0, Larne won 2 and 0 ended level. These games averaged 2.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 0% of them.

What do the goal statistics show before Ballymena United vs Larne?

Ballymena United score 1.17 goals per game on average and Larne 1.77. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.89 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 55% of games. Both teams score in 48% of Ballymena United's matches and 43% of Larne's.

What form are Ballymena United and Larne in?

Over the last 5 games Ballymena United have a 1-1-3 record (0.80 points per game) and Larne 1-2-2 (1.00 points per game).

Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Ballymena United vs Larne?

The statistical background for Ballymena United vs Larne — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under — is on this page. The tip with full reasoning and a value assessment is in the NoFluffPicks app.