Ballinamallard make the perfect start to new season

Mark Stafford’s reign as Ballinamallard manager got off to the perfect start with a 4-0 victory over Ballyclare Comrades at Ferney Park.

The Mallards scored all four goals in the second half, as they reversed the result of the final game of last season against Ballyclare to move to the top of the NIFL Championship table after the first weekend of fixtures.

Alex Holder gave Ballinamallard a deserved lead just before the hour mark, and a further three goals in the final 15 minutes from Darragh Byrne, Callum Moorehead and Danny Barker secured their first three points of the season against a team that had been a thorn in Ballinamallard’s side in many of their recent clashes.

The Ballinamallard defence had conceded a total seven goals to Ballyclare in their two previous meetings of 2024, including a demoralising 4-0 defeat at Ferney Park on what would turn out to be Tommy Cannings’ final match as manager. 

A delighted Daniel Barker after he netted the Mallard's fourth goal. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

But with Stafford at the helm it was a different story despite seven players from last season’s final match day squad in this weekend’s starting 11.

The Mallards had the better of a goalless first half. They started like a team out to impress their new boss, and their high energy opening helped them dominate the first 10 minutes of the contest.

Just three minutes into the game Alex Holder found Josh McIlwaine in the centre of the pitch, and his first-time clip over the heads of the Comrades’ defence set Darragh Byrne free down the right, but his low cross was deflected into the arms of the keeper.

The keeper then made a routine save from a Peter Maguire header, before Byrne was set clear by Aaron Arkinson down the right, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

The Mallards pressure continued with Arkinson the next to test Gerard Walker in the Ballyclare goal.

Jamie Dunne drives forward for Ballinamallard. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

A Jamie Dunne long throw was flicked on by McIlwaine, and although the defence headed clear, Arkinson ran onto the dropping ball 30 yards from goal, but his well-struck half-volley was acrobatically tipped over the bar.

Midway through the half McIlwaine found Dunne with a long diagonal, and the winger cut inside the defender with his first touch, but Walker dived full length to touch his shot from 20 yards around the post.

Dunne then headed a left-wing cross off the outside of the Ballyclare post, before the visitors mustered their first effort at goal in the 34th minute of the game, with debutant Joel Little comfortably saving Michael Leetch’s curling effort.

Ballyclare’s best opportunity of the half came in added time when centre back Owen McConville powered a header goalwards from a corner, but Little reacted superbly to deflect the ball over the bar.

Ballinamallard started the second half in a similar high intensity fashion to the first, with Dunne firing over from a free-kick and McIlwaine heading straight at the keeper from a deep cross. Ballyclare were still threatening on the break and a lofted ball caught out the Mallard defence, but Little saved with his legs when Leetch was through on goal.

Darragh Byrne challenges a Ballyclare player. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

Michael Morgan then volleyed over the bar for the visitors, but the Mallards finally got their reward in the 58th minute. A quick throw-in allowed Holder space to run across the face of the penalty area from right to left, and he exchanged passes with Dunne before cutting inside a defender and firing low across the keeper into the far corner.

Ballinamallard immediately pressed to try to extend their lead.

Maguire headed Gary’s Armstrong’s free kick over the bar, and Byrne came close, getting on the end of McGrath flick on but blasting over the bar.

Ballyclare made a triple substitution in a bid to stem the home team’s momentum, and they appeared to be getting a foothold in the contest until the Mallards ended any hopes of a revival with three goals in the last 15 minutes.

The vital second was created by a driving midfield run through the heart of the Comrades’ defence by Dunne with Byrne applying the finishing touch.

Richard Johnston plays the ball out of defence. (Image: Mervyn Smyth)

With five minutes remaining Callum Moorehead added the third.

The winger burst forward from the halfway line and found McIlwaine on the right. His attempted cross glanced off the crossbar and fell into the path of McGrath, and although he could not force his header over the line, Moorehead was on hand to blast home the rebound.

The victory was completed in the first minute of added time when three substitutes combined.

Aaron Harkin’s cross-field ball found Moorehead in space on the right wing, and his deep cross was volleyed past the keeper by Danny Barker to seal Ballinamallard’s first opening-day victory since 2018.