Dergview 0 Ballinamallard United 0
Ballinamallard were left to rue missed chances in front of goal as the local derby against Dergview at Darragh Park ended in a stalemate.
The Mallards dominated for long spells, but they could not find a goal that would have given them the victory, with Callum Moorehead hitting the bar and Darragh Byrne and Josh McIlwaine denied by superb saves from Shane O’Gara.
Tommy Canning was forced into one change from the side that lost out to Portadown last week.
Alex Holder was suspended after amassing five yellow cards, and his omission opened the door for January signing Gary Armstrong to make his first start for the club since December 2017.
Darragh Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Ballinamallard in recent times, with the Fermanagh side having only won once in their last six league visits, and despite their superiority on Tuesday evening, they were unable to improve on that record.
It was a typically frantic start to the derby contest, with neither team able to settle on the ball.
Darragh Byrne proved to be the Mallards' most potent attacking threat in the opening stages with a looping header comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Shane O’Gara, and a long-range effort rising over the bar.
Armstrong was playing in a deeper lying midfield role than he would have played in his previous spell at the club, but he almost got himself on the scoresheet when he charged down O’Gara’s clearance.
Armstrong regathered possession and unleashed a shot from a tight angle but the keeper palmed the ball away to safety.
Ballinamallard’s best chance of the first half came after 26 minutes when Moorehead and Aaron Harkin exchanged passes in the centre of the pitch before Harkin’s pass found James McGrath in space on the right.
His low inviting cross was met by McIlwaine, but the striker’s effort from eight yards out was saved by O’Gara.
Dergview had showed little attacking intent in the early stages but as the half continued they got a foothold in the game and Jamie Ray had to dash off his line to smother a shot at the feet of Aduaka.
Moments later the visiting defence were caught flat-footed as the ball bounced into the penalty area, but Lynch’s looping header over Ray bounced off the top of the bar.
McGrath fired over the bar at the end of the first half, and Aaron Arkinson shot wide in the opening minute of the second period as Ballinamallard pressed forward.
The Mallards’ best chance of the contest arrived five minutes into the second half when a diagonal ball released Moorehead in space down the right.
He advanced on the keeper and tried to lift it over O’Gara, but his dinked finish came back off the crossbar and Byrne headed the rebound over the bar.
The Mallards were having their best spell of the match and a long ball to McIlwaine on the right set up another opportunity.
The striker cut the ball back to McGrath who slid a pass across the area to Byrne, but his powerful shot was stopped by the right hand of the keeper.
Dergview carved out a late opportunity from a throw-in three minutes into injury time, but Gareth Harkin stabbed wide of the front post as the game petered out into a draw.
The draw leaves Ballinamallard in ninth spot in the NIFL Championship table.
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