After the referees’ strike and the monsoon-like conditions that put paid to Ballymena United’s scheduled start to the season, it was far from third time lucky for the Braidmen.

They were sunk without trace, slapped down by a nap hand from Cliftonville, that had home fans shocked and the Reds on cloud nine.

And it certainly spells out an early warning that Eddie Patterson’s men want to make up for the disappointing end to last season.

“We asked the players at the start of the season was the hunger still there because until St. Patrick’s weekend last year, you could argue we were the best team in the league,” said assistant boss Tommy Breslin.

“From March until the end of the season we couldn’t buy a win, so we’ve asked them if the hunger and desire is still there and I think that showed today.

“We have Barry and Mark Holland, Declan O’Hara and Barry Johnston to come back in, Vincent Sweeney’s on his way back so we have a lot of options.

“But with big squads comes big decisions and you have to try and keep everybody happy, but if you’re winning every week they will be.”

One man assured of his place in the Reds starting line-up is Chris Scannell, skipper for the day and he led by example by bagging a 10-minute hat-trick either side of the break.

Often criticised for his lack of goals, Scannell popped up with three classic poacher’s efforts much to the delight of Breslin.

“Normally we have to score precise and exciting goals but I think all five were goalscorer’s goals where we normally don’t get a lot of people into the box to score those type of goals,” he explained.

“Chris is an honest as the day is long, he’ll run all day and do a lot of donkey work outside the box to create space for others. But he got three goals and fully deserved them and long may it continue.”

However deadly he was, any visiting frontmen in the future are unlikely to be given as many gifts.

Things started to so well for Roy Walker on his league debut as Sky Blues’ boss, Neil Teggart heading home Stuart King’s corner in the third minute.

Only an excellent save by John Connolly prevented him from doubling that advantage, but when David McAlinden was allowed to rise unchallenged to head George McMullan’s centre to an equally unmarked Francis Murphy to score, the game turned.

Gary Haveron put the ball on a plate for Rory Hamill to score in the 41st minute and three minutes later, Scannell pounced on an Alan Blayney blunder for 3-1.

In the 49th minute, Scannell was again given the freedom of the six-yard-box to score and wrapped up his hat-trick five minutes later when Blayney and his defence stood and watched as the striker took decisive action.

Walker was less than impressed with what he witnessed.

“It showed up a lot of deficiencies with individuals in a particular area where I felt we were fairly solid in,” he admitted.

“I had a good word with them, nice and quietly, behind closed doors and asked them to go and have an introspective look at themselves and then come back and tell me how much better they could have done.”