Ten-man Mallards come from behind to earn a point
Ballinamallard Utd 1 Ballyclare Comrades 1
TEN-MAN Ballinamallard came from a goal behind for the second match in a row to snatch a one-all draw at Ferney Park against Ballyclare Comrades.
The Mallards conceded an early goal and then had Shane Mcginty dismissed, but a second half header from John Edgar rescued a point.
Manager Harry Mcconkey made two changes to the starting 11 that had taken a point in midweek at Warrenpoint. With Darragh Byrne ruled out of contention on the morning of the game through illness, Mcconkey opted to bring Peter Maguire back in place of the unavailable Ryan Morris, with Patrick Ferry replacing Ruairi Sludden.
Mark Stafford also returned to the bench after six weeks out of the squad through injury.
Ballinamallard started well and earned an early corner which BJ Banda headed just over the crossbar, but with just eight minutes on the clock they fell behind.
Ballyclare won a disputed throw-in on the right, and from there they worked an opening for Gary Donnelly, who left goalkeeper Michael Lynch with no chance with a 20-yard curling effort into the top corner.
Despite the setback the Mallards continued to have the better of the possession and on one foray forward Banda went down inside the penalty area, but referee Neil Robinson was unmoved by the home team’s appeals.
Shane Mcginty then delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area but no one could apply the finishing touch, and moments later Banda headed wide of the post.
With 39 minutes gone the game shifted further in Ballyclare’s favour when Mcginty was dragged back as he threatened to start a Ballinamallard attack, and the in-form midfielder threw out an arm and caught Comrades’ Gary Donnelly in the face.
The referee had no hesitation in brandishing a Red Card, but even with ten men Ballinamallard continued to take the game to Ballyclare, and John Edgar had a shot just wide of the post before the half-time interval.
Rewarded
The Mallards kept two strikers pushed forward despite their numerical disadvantage, and they were rewarded for their attacking intent just before the hour mark when Shaun Mcdermott’s left-wing cross was headed into the bottom corner of the net by Edgar.
The game was developing into an end-to-end contest and Lynch was called upon to make a good save, while another Mcdermott delivery from the left was headed inches wide by Joshua Mcilwaine.
Mcilwaine then turned provider, clipping a ball over the top of the Comrades’ defence for Banda, but the striker’s volley was superbly touched over the bar by Declan Breen in the
Ballyclare goal.
Ballinamallard brought substitutes Stevie Drumm and Peter Campbell on for Edgar and Ferry, and teenager Campbell almost snatched a late winner when he ran onto a pass from Richard Clarke, but defender Owen Mcconville made a game-saving block to ensure his side left Ferney Park with a draw.