Ballinamallard suffer 4-0 loss away to Welders in week two

Ballinamallard suffered a reversal of their 4-0 opening day victory in week two of the season, as they went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of H&W Welders.

The Mallards were four down by half time with David Parkhouse scoring all four, and although the Mallards did not concede in the second half, the dismissal of captain Aaron Arkinson capped a disappointing day for manager Mark Stafford.

The manager opted to field the same starting eleven that earned the 4-0 win against Ballyclare, and it looked as though his selection would be rewarded instantly when  Joshua McIlwaine forced the ball over the line with only two minutes on the clock, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Ballinamallard were forced into an early change when Gary Armstrong picked up an injury just two minutes into the contest.

Aaron Harkin took his spot at the base of the Mallard’s midfield, but he was helpless to prevent Welders opening goal after eight minutes.

The home team won possession in midfield and a combination of passes got them in behind the Ballinamallard defence on the right wing, with a floated cross from Ewan McCoubrey headed in from six yards out by Parkhouse.

The visitors had a chance to bounce back moments after the opening goal when  Darragh Byrne burst through on the right and cut the ball back for James McGrath, but the midfielder’s shot was straight at former Ballinamallard goalkeeper Jack Mills, who gathered at the second attempt.

Welders moved two ahead after twenty minutes. Jamie Dunne was robbed of possession on the halfway line, and as the Mallard’s free kick claims were being waved away by the referee, the home team broke down the left through Tiarnan O’Connor and his cut back from the by-line was volleyed in from close range by Parkhouse.

It went from bad to worse for Ballinamallard as Parkhouse completed his hat-trick before the half-hour mark.

Welders again picked up possession after an untidy spell of play that saw the sides exchange possession several times in quick succession.

The ball eventually fell to Welders who worked it wide to O’Connor, and his cross was headed in at the back post.

Parkhouse’s fourth of the game came on the stroke of half time when a Welders quickly taken free kick gave Dylan O’Kane time to line up a long-range effort.

Joel Little batted away his swerving effort but it fell kindly for Parkhouse who fired in the rebound.

Stafford made a double change at half time, with Jamie Dunne and James McGrath being replaced by Callum Moorehead and Ultan O’Grady, but any hopes of an unlikely second half comeback were extinguished when Arkinson picked up two yellow cards within the first ten minutes of the half, reducing the visitors to ten.

Despite being a man down Ballinamallard looked much more solid in the second half as they worked hard to deny Welders any space.

Little saved an O’Connor effort from ten yards out, but Welders’ sight of goal was rare in the second half.

The Mallards almost grabbed a consolation when Alex Holder’s pass set Moorehead clear, but Welders’ goalkeeper Mills came out quickly to smother his effort at goal.

 The defeat leaves Ballinamallard fifth in the Championship standings with a home game against unbeaten Ards next up at Ferney Park.