Ballinamallard 1-2 Dundela 

It is now one win in six matches for Ballinamallard after they went down 2-1 to Dundela at Ferney Park on Saturday.  

The home team struggled to create chances throughout the game with a Michael McLellan penalty and a Ewan Kelly strike earning Dundela a two-goal lead at halftime.

Ballinamallard did pull a goal back with a Dean Corrigan header in injury time, but it was too little too late as they remain three points above the drop zone. 

Ballinamallard manager Mark Stafford was once again forced into multiple changes ahead of the game, with four of the starters from the previous week against Newington deemed unable to start.

Centre-back pairing Peter Maguire and Nathan Sherry were ruled out by injury, with Danny Barker and Josh McIlwaine only fit enough for the bench.

Club captain Aaron Arkinson returned after an eight-week lay-off, with Simon Warrington, James McGrath and Dean Corrigan all returning to the starting line-up. 

Ballinamallard almost gifted Dundela an early lead when Dean Corrigan’s pass was intercepted on the edge of his own penalty area, but Ryan Morris’ last-gasp sliding block denied Ewan Kelly.  

From the resulting corner, the Mallard’s defence struggled to clear and Sam Dinu found space for a shot at goal after a scramble inside the penalty area, but it was straight at goalkeeper Joel Little. 

Ballinamallard were playing against a strong wind in the first half, and the tricky underfoot conditions were also playing a part as both teams struggled to get into their stride.  

A slip by Arkinson allowed Dundela another shot at goal, but Morris again blocked. 

It took Ballinamallard twenty minutes to trouble the visitor’s defence, with Jamie Dunne racing clear down the left wing and pulling the ball back from the byline, but a defender nipped in front of Darragh Stewart before he could test the keeper. 

Midway through the first half, Dundela made the breakthrough.  Darragh Byrne lost possession in a dangerous area but Little made a diving save to deny Michael McLellan.

Dundela regathered possession and worked the ball to the edge of the penalty box, but in attempting a sliding tackle Ultan O’Grady was deemed to have committed a foul.

McLellan stepped up and sent Little the wrong way from the penalty spot to give Dundela the lead. 

Mark Patton then fired just wide for the Duns, and moments later his long-range shot was fumbled by Little, but the keeper recovered in time to grab the ball ahead of the inrushing Kelly.  

As the game entered the final minute of the first half Dundela extended their lead. Ryan Morris could only get a glancing header on a cross from the left wing, and the ball dropped invitingly for Kelly, who lashed a first-time effort back across Little and into the far corner of the net.  

Dylan Boyle came on for the injured Jamie Dunne at halftime, but Ballinamallard still struggled to create chances in a second half that lacked goalmouth action.

Darragh Stewart had a shot blocked in the opening minutes of the half and Simon Warrington volleyed over the bar, while at the other end, McLellan volleyed straight at Little and Jack Smith had a shot saved.

As the game entered added time substitute Callum Moorehead did well to win a corner and Dean Corrigan rose unchallenged at the near post to pull a goal back, but there was no time remaining to complete a comeback.