Disappointing end to season for Ballinamallard

Ballinamallard United 0 Ballyclare 4

Ballinamallard United finished the NIFL Championship season in ninth place after a final-day defeat to Ballyclare Comrades at Ferney Park.

The Mallards made a poor start to their last league fixture of the campaign, conceding goals in the fifth and 15th minutes, and despite creating numerous chances two further Ballyclare goals sealed their fate.

Manager Tommy Canning opted to make four changes from the side that lost heavily to Ards, with Jamie Ray reclaiming his place in goal at the expense of Adam Groogan, Aaron Harkin and Gary Armstrong coming into midfield for John Edgar and Ultan O’Grady, and Josh McIlwaine returning up front to replace Nick Palmer.

The Ballinamallard manager had called for a reaction to the humbling defeat by Ards, but it was the visitors that opened the scoring after just five minutes.

Ben McCann’s header back to his keeper was under hit and Comrades captain Gary Donnelly nipped in to lift the ball over Ray and sidefoot into the empty net.

Ballinamallard almost replied within two minutes when a precise ball from Alex Holder dissected the defence, but Armstrong blasted his shot straight at Walker in the Ballyclare goal.

Ballinamallard forced several corners as they tried to get back on level terms, but 15 minutes into the game Comrades added a second when Brian Healey fired in a first-time volley from 12 yards out.

The home team responded well to the setbacks and dominated the game up until half-time without any reward.

Armstrong collected a low cross from Barker and swivelled to shoot but it was comfortably gathered by the keeper.

McIlwaine then put Darragh Byrne through, but under pressure from a recovering defender, his shot was saved.

Aaron Smyton delivered a deep cross to Barker, but the winger’s shot was hacked clear off the goal line.

Armstrong then had a shot hit his teammate, before Aaron Arkinson blazed over from a tight angle.

The Mallard chances kept coming with Smyton cutting inside the full-back and delivering a low cross to the back post. Barker set it back across the face of goal, but a defender turned it behind.

In added time at the end of the half Ballyclare’s Michael Morgan fired a shot across the keeper but it shaved the outside of the post.

The second half started with the Mallards on the front foot again and McIlwaine headed over the bar from a corner, Byrne had a cross touched over the bar as it threatened to drift in at the far post, and Armstrong fired across the face of the goal from the edge of the penalty area.

Any hopes the Mallards had of mounting a comeback were effectively ended 12 minutes into the half however when hesitation between the two central defenders and goalkeeper allowed Morgan to lob the ball into the net and make it 3-0.

Defensive confusion also played a part in Ballyclare’s fourth as McCann’s touch on a cross took the ball away from Jamie Ray and allowed Alan McMurty to score from close range.

Nick Collen had an injury-time shot pushed around the post, but Ballinamallard could not round off their season with a goal as their season finished in disappointing fashion.