Young Mallards produce a fantastic second half performance as they take the points against an in form Cookstown side

Ballinamallard U14s 6 Cookstown U14s 2

The young Mallards welcomed the in form Cookstown to the Forum on Saturday, taking the three points after a fantastic second half performance.

The visitors took a deserved lead with a quarter of the game played; a sliced clearance from a throw in led to a crisp drive from the edge of the box which Tomas Mcgirr did well to parry but the Cookstown attacker followed in to score.

This was very much a wake up call for Ballinamallard

and they began to settle better on the ball.

A slick attack down the left involving Kelan Boyle and Rafa Mccoy presented Joshua Humes with a good chance to equalise but his effort just went over the bar.

The equaliser did come 10 minutes before the break however when a bouncing ball on the edge of the box was seized upon by the lively Humes.

His close control took him away from the defender and he finished superbly into the bottom corner.

Ballinamallard began the second half on the front foot with Cookstown struggling to deal with their attacking play.

A whipped corner from Jay Largo-elis proved too difficult to defend as the Cookstown defender put it into his own goal.

Another goal quickly followed; Makar Marynoshenko won possession in midfield, combining with Oliver Robertson to release Matthew Garrity on the right, the cut back from Garrity found Humes who forced a parried save from the goalkeeper with Mccoy following in to score and make it 3-1.

Garrity himself was next to get on the scoresheet, a mazy dribble taking him into the box before he finished high into the net.

Cookstown were thrown a lifeline with 20 minutes to go when a long ball released their striker who controlled well and slid the ball in to make it 4-2.

The visitors began to go direct but the defence of Patton, Magee, Timlin and Boyle held firm.

Substitutes Rhys Murphy and Luke Robb were involved in the build up as Garrity shot with power from the edge of the box, the ball rebounded off the post and Daithi Teague was there to slide the ball into the net.

The final goal of the game was to come with five minutes to go, Garrity curling in a free kick from 20 yards to leave the Mallards with a comfortable win.