Ballinamallard leave it late to end their winless run

A John Edgar goal three minutes into injury time earned Ballinamallard United victory over Annagh United and brought to an end their run of four games without a win.

With Josh McIlwaine suspended and Simon Warrington unavailable, Dylan Boyle made his first senior start since December as the Mallards looked to get back to winning ways in the final game before the league splits in half for the end-of-season run in.

In-form Annagh were looking to extend their undefeated run to 10 games, and they started confidently with a strong wind at their backs.

A Callum Moorehead foul on the edge of the penalty area gave the visitors their first sight of goal, but Ruari McDonald’s free-kick was straight at goalkeeper Jamie Ray.

Alex Holder challenges Niall Henderson. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

Annagh did have the ball in the net after 17 minutes when Paul Finnegan converted a flick-on from a long throw, but the referee penalised Annagh for a push on the edge of the six-yard box.

Ballinamallard were finding it difficult to play out from the back against the wind, and in trying to play through Annagh both Ryan Morris and Ultan O’Grady lost possession in quick succession as the visitors broke through, but Richie Johnston blocked their shot on the line, and Ray superbly saved the follow up.

Ballinamallard were struggling to threaten the Annagh defence, with a Holder shot over the bar and a dangerous Dylan Boyle cross the closest the Mallards came to breaking the deadlock in a scrappy first half.

Dylan Boyle stays focussed on the ball. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

McDonald headed off target and James Convie blasted a free kick high over the bar for Annagh as the first half ended goalless.

Ballinamallard were forced into a change at half-time with Aaron Smyton replacing the injured Moorehead, and with the advantage of the wind they started to look more threatening, with James McGrath having a shot deflected over the bar and Ben McCann just failing to bundle a corner kick over the line from inside the six-yard box.

Annagh should have taken the lead midway through the half when they broke clear down the right. Jack Evans held off McCann but his shot was saved by the feet of Ray.

The rebound fell invitingly for McDonald, but he blasted his shot off the underside of the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Solid defending by Richard Johnston as he wins possession. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

Gary Armstrong tested Jason Craughwell in the Annagh goal with a long-range effort that the keeper gathered comfortably, but it looked like the game was going to peter out into a tame goalless draw before Edgar’s late intervention.

The midfielder had already miscued a cross from Daniel Barker in added time, and with the game entering the 93rd minute an innocuous ball towards the edge of the Annagh penalty area looked as though it would be cleared by the defence, but Barker blocked the clearance and the ricochet fell kindly for Edgar, who chested the ball down and blasted it past the keeper to snatch victory.