Omagh Hospitals 3 Ballinamallard Reserves 2 

Ballinamallard Reserves lost their first league game in over a year as they went down 3-2 to Omagh Hospitals.  

Conor Stewart had given the Fermanagh side the lead but Hospitals hit back immediately through Oisin Miller.

Two goals in a minute in the second half gave the home side a two-goal advantage, and although the Mallards pulled a goal back through Henry Miskimmin, they could not find an equaliser that would have extended their unbeaten run. 

Ballinamallard Reserves’ manager Ally Irwin admitted his side got what they deserved from the game. 

“I don’t think as a team we did enough to get anything out of it,” he conceded.  

“You could maybe have argued that if were a bit more fortunate with certain decisions and if the ball had fell for us more fortunately at times then we could have got a draw, but I didn’t feel like we had the better of the game.

"For us to get something it would have taken luck and I don’t like relying on that. We just weren’t good enough.” 

After last season’s unbeaten campaign in division three, the defeat is Ballinamallard’s first since their re-introduction to the Fermanagh and Western League.  

The manager knows it will be vital that they now react in the right manner to the setback.

“When you are on a run like that you start to feel like you are never going to lose a game of football again, but ultimately that is not football,” said Irwin. 

“As we progress through the levels, if we are not on it, as we weren’t on Saturday, then there are teams out there that are of a good enough standard to punish you.  

"Yes, we are here to win things and get promoted, but first and foremost the priority of Ballinamallard United Reserves is to develop players and push them to first-team level and we need to see how they meet this challenge of having to bounce back.” 

After a cagey opening to the game, Ballinamallard took the lead ten minutes before halftime when a free kick delivered into Hospital’s penalty area was only partially cleared and John Edgar drove a low ball across the six-yard box for Conor Stewart to tap home from close range.

Ballinamallard’s lead only lasted two minutes as Hospitals hit straight back when Oisin Miller held off both central defenders on the edge of the penalty area before driving a low shot past Calvin Brown.

A strong and athletic home team took the lead for the first time after an hour. Miller was brought down inside the penalty box by Henry MIskimmin and the striker picked himself up to dispatch the spot kick.

One minute later it was 3-1 as Stephen Coyle’s attempted cross from the left wing dropped into the net at the back post. 

Conor Stewart crashed a shot off the crossbar as the Mallard looked for a way back into the game, and they were given a lifeline with six minutes remaining when Miskimmin headed in a corner kick, but Hospitals held on to take the win.