Ballinamallard United 0 Coleraine 4

An understrength Ballinamallard United bowed out of the League Cup in the first round after a 4-0 defeat to Premiership side Coleraine at Ferney Park on Tuesday night.

The top flight opposition dominated possession and took a 2-0 lead into half-time with a brace from Matthew Shevlin and Jamie McGonigle added two more in the second-half as Coleraine brushed the Mallards aside.

Ballinamallard manager Mark Stafford was forced into fielding a much changed line-up.

Jamie Dunne was ruled out with illness, as the manager opted to play with five in defence.

With James McGrath unavailable and Gary Armstrong, Alex Holder, Aaron Harkin and Callum Moorehead all injured it was a makeshift midfield with Richie Johnston playing in the centre of the pitch for the first time in his Ballinamallard career alongside Ryan Morris.

Ballinamallard set up with five at the back, with Danny Barker playing a lone striker role, and it nullified Coleraine in the early stages of the contest.

The Mallards won a corner kick after 13 minutes, and Nathan Sherry picked up the cross on the edge of the box. His effort was blocked, with Morris blasting the loose ball wide of the post.

Coleraine came into the game looking to bounce back from a heavy league defeat to Linfield at the weekend and they started to dominate possession as the half progressed.

They were almost gifted an opening goal after confusion between goalkeeper Joel Little and Nathan Sherry but the defender recovered to shepherd the ball to safety.

It was only a temporary reprieve for the home team, who fell behind in the 21st minute when Matthew Shevlin got on the end of a right wing cross to volley home at the back post.

Dean Corrigan was fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty after a challenge inside the penalty area and moments later Coleraine captain Dean Jarvis had a header saved by Little.

Little was a busy figure in the Mallards' goal and he made an instinctive one-handed save from a whipped cross after Shevlin failed to connect with a header.

And a minute later he saved a long range effort from Connor Murray.

Five minutes before the half-time interval Coleraine added a second when they burst through the heart of the Ballinamallard midfield with former Ballinamallard youth player Corey Smith releasing Shevlin who fired into the top corner.

Peter Maguire had a rare Ballinamallard effort at goal in the opening minutes of the second half but Coleraine keeper Max Little gathered his header with ease as the game settled into a familiar pattern of Coleraine possession.

Coleraine added a third on 57 minutes when Richie Johnston committed a foul 25 yards from goal and Jamie McGonigle curled a superb free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Stafford’s injury crisis meant a surprise return for John Edgar and the midfielder came off the substitute’s bench with 25 minutes remaining but he could not inspire a Mallard comeback.

McGonigle flashed a shot wide of the post but made amends moments later when Senan Devine rounded the keeper and cut the ball back for McGonigle to tap in the fourth.

Darragh Byrne burst down the right from his own half and cut in towards the penalty area in a late Ballinamallard attack but his shot was deflected wide of the post as Coleraine emerged comfortable winners.