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Vs Cliftonville (27th April, Home, League)
The curtain has fallen, and Ballinamallard's debut season in the Danske Bank Premier League has seen them finish in a very credible fifth position.
Despite being tipped as relegation favourites at the start of the season, Whitey and his squad have smashed all expectations and recorded some stunning results along the way.
The season was rounded off on Saturday with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Champions Cliftonville. Ryan Campbell got the only goal for the Mallards which moves him top of the goal scoring charts.
|  | Vs Linfield (20th April, Away, League)
For the second time this season, Ballinamallard have defeated Linfield at Windsor Park; a result that lifts them to fifth in the table with one game remaining.
Ryan Campbell bagged his 10th goal of the season having played a one-two with Chris Curran whilst Linfield's Conor McMenamin hit the post with an overhead kick.
James McGrath saved well from Philip Lowry in the second half, as the Mallards collect 7 points from 12 against 'the Blues'.
|  | Vs Glentoran (13th April, Home, League)
MATCH SPONSORS: MONEY MATTERS NI, TEMPO ROAD, ENNISKILLEN
Ballinamallard played out a dull and dreary goalless draw at Ferney Park on Saturday afternoon with Irish Cup Finalists Glentoran.
With Glentoran fresh from their Irish Cup Semi-Final victory over Portadown and Ballinamallard still bouncing after making the top six at the first time of asking, all signs pointed to an enthralling game.
After some early sparring, the first opportunity fell to Ryan Campbell after 9 minutes. Some neat play on the edge of the Glentoran box led to the ball bouncing favourably for Campbell, however the Mallards star blazed over from 20 yards.
6 minutes later and Glentoran striker Andy Waterworth blazed beyond the Ducks defence, but David Howland failed to connect properly to the ex-Hamilton mans cutback.
Glentoran had a couple of half-chances through Marcus Kane and Waterworth, however Alvin Rouse in the Mallards goal was barely troubled. After half an hour the home side began to dominate proceedings, with Campbell and then Ryan Feeney both seeing efforts saved by Elliott Morris.
In injury time of the first half, young Glens defender Kevin Bradley swung an inch perfect cross to Waterworth. The big striker got up well however under pressure from several Mallards defenders he couldn't direct his header goalwards.
Early in the second half the east Belfast outfit should've taken the lead. Waterworth pounced on a weak backpass and drove forward with pace and purpose, cutting back to an unmarked Howland. Unfortunately for the Glens, the midfielder fired his effort wide courtesy of a deflection off of a Mallards defender.
On the hour mark, Howland was again almost the villain as he presented David Kee with a chance, but his effort didn't test Morris.
The best chance of the game came on 79 minutes. Mark Stafford rose highest and directed a header goalwards. With Morris beaten it looked destined for the back of the net, however keeping with the way the game was going the ball glanced off of the post before being hacked away to safety.
In stoppage time Glentoran again should've taken the three points. Substitute Marty Murray swung a superb cross to the back post to find the unmarked Richard Gibson - but the big striker stumbled and saw the ball trickle past the post - much to the dismay of the travelling Glentoran fans.
On Tuesday evening then they lost 3-1 at Seaview, meaning that Crusaders are the only team in the league that the Mallards have failed to take any points from. Stephen Sheridan scored a consolation goal whilst John Currie made his Premiership debut for the club.
|  | Vs Coleraine (2nd April, Home, League)
Mark Stafford's second half equaliser gained Ballinamallard a point to move them within touching distance of fourth position.
Whitey Anderson made several changes to the team that drew with Linfield on Saturday, with McManus, Feeney, O'Grady and Hill all coming into the team. There was also a first appearance of the season for goalkeeper James McGrath and a debut for left back Colm McLaughlin.
The first half was a scrappy affair with few chances for either side. David Ogilby fired over the bar from close range whilst Curtis Allen thought he had scored on 33 minutes, only for it to be ruled offside.
Allen got the better of the linesman 10 minutes later however, when he collected a flick on and finished past McGrath, but again there was a strong suspicion of offside.
McGrath denied Allen after the break by diverting his strike over the cross bar before Mark Stafford headed in a Davy Kee free kick on 58 minutes.
Ruari Harkin seen his volley well saved by McGrath as the game became more open whilst the Mallards best chance fell on 71 minutes.
Davy Kee played a neat ball through to Chris Curran but his shot was straight at Michael Doherty.
The home side pushed for a late winner, but in the end they had to be content with a point.
Half time draw winner was ticket number 8597 and was claimed by Gerry O'Kane. There are also some match programmes remaining.
Team: McGrath, McLoughlin (Keohane), Carters, Stafford, Hill, Curran, Kee, O'Grady, McManus (Sheridan), Feeney (Crawford), Campbell
|  | Vs Linfield (30th March, Home, League)
MATCH SPONSORS: INHOUSE DESIGN, SLIGO ROAD, ENNISKILLEN
Ballinamallard gained the point they needed to secure a top 6 finish in their debut season in the Danske Bank Premier League, with a 0-0 draw at Ferney Park.
Both sides had their chances in what became a very open first half. Jason McCartney seen an early effort saved by Ross Glendenning, whilst Andy Crawford seen his burst of pace set him free, only for his shot to bounce agonisingly past the right hand post.
Matthew Tipton hit the post for the away side on 10 minutes whilst Michael Carvill seen his free kick from close range fly over the bar.
Ryan Campbell forced Glendenning into another save before Linfield hit the woodwork again. Captain Jamie Mulgrew showed good skills down the left to beat 2 men before crossing for Philip Lowry to head off the crossbar.
Davy Kee put a free kick narrowly wide for the Mallards whilst McAllister spurned the last chance of the half by blasting over the bar.
The second half certainly wasn't as exciting as the first as both sides ground out the draw. Tipton was again denied by Rouse and Mark Stafford seen a flicked header from a Curran corner well saved.
It didn't matter for Ballinamallard though, as a point was all they needed!
Next game at home to Coleraine, this Tuesday, kick off 2.30pm.
Winner of the half time draw is ticket number 8819 which is still unclaimed. There are also some match programmes left over.
Team: Rouse, Keohane, Carters, Stafford, Phair, Curran, Kee, McKenna (O'Grady), McCartney, Crawford (McManus), Campbell (Feeney)
|  | Vs Glentoran (16th March, Away, League)
Despite a 3-0 defeat at the Oval, Ballinamallard have all but secured a top 6 finish in their debut season in the Danske Bank Premier League.
Portadown can still catch the Mallards, after they only picked up a point yesterday, but it would take a 12 goal swing to move the mid Ulster side into sixth position.
Despite a brave effort by the boys in blue, they found it tough going in monsoon like conditions.
Martin Murray had the opening chance of the game, but teenage full back Gary Phair managed to get across and put in a vital block.
The first chance for the Mallards fell on 19 minutes with Andy Crawford blasting over the bar from a Davy Kee free kick.
The Glens dominated the opening exchanges and almost took the lead on 27 minutes when David Howland's stunning long range strike bounced off the wood work.
The home side pulled ahead five minutes later however. Alvin Rouse poor kick out fell to the feet of Castlederg man Richard Clarke, and he chipped the ball into an open net.
Davy Kee almost drew his side level just minutes later. His pinpoint free kick was superbly saved by Elliott Morris however.
Andy Crawford spurned the last chance of the half when he shot over the bar after midfielder Duwayne McManus played an incisive pass through the home defence.
The Mallards came out for the second half with all guns blazing and were very unlucky not to get themselves back into the game.
First, Jason McCartney hit the post and then they had a penalty appeal turned down after James McKenna's header appeared to strike the arm of Jimmy Callacher.
Ballinamallard's luck wasn't in however, and 6 minutes after half time, Martin Murray smashed Andy Waterworths cross past a helpless Alvin Rouse.
Gary Phair came to his sides rescue again with another vital block, this time to deny Richard Clarke whilst Waterworth made it 3-0 from a narrow angle to give Glentoran all 3 points.
Ballinamallard will now welcome Linfield to Ferney Park this Saturday, in the final game before the league splits.
Team: Rouse, Phair, Stafford, Carters, Keohane (O'Grady), Curran, Kee, McManus, McKenna (Sheridan), McCartney, Crawford (Campbell)
| | Vs Dungannon Swifts (9th March, Home, League)
MATCH SPONSORS: MULLAN ENGINEERING, FINTONA
Jason McCartney (pictured right) scored a fine hat trick to secure victory for Ballinamallard in the Fermanagh Tyrone derby, with substitute Andy Crawford adding a late fourth.
That result gives the Mallards a strong chance of a top 6 finish with just two games to go as they move into fifth in the Danske Bank Premier League.
It was the Swifts who were gifted the opening chance of the game. Gareth Liggett, in for the injured Mark Stafford, tried to play a ball across the penalty area, only for stiker James Costello to intercept, and despite facing an open goal, the ex-Ballymena United man put his shot wide.
Liggett was to turn provider for the opening goal however on 22 minutes. His long free kick evaded the crowded penalty area, but found McCartney at the back post and he volleyed high into the net past Tuda Murphy.
Striker Ryan Campbell had a few chances fly narrowly wide of goal during a stop start first half, but it was the Mallards who went in ahead at half time.
Dungannon manager Darren Murphy introduced Stefan Lavery for James Costello at the break to try and give his side a greater goal threat but the home side added a second on 61 minutes.
Firstly, McCartney was denied by Tuda Murphy with a close range header, but as play continued the Blues carved out another chance. Duwayne McManus, making his first premier league start for the Mallards, threaded a ball through to McCartney, and he showed quick feet before slotting into the net for his second of the game.
Neal Gawley put a decent chance wide for the Swifts, but the away side failed to ever really exert themselves on the game, with Matt Hazley also putting a free kick over the bar.
Substitute Steve Feeney almost scored having been on the field for barely a few minutes, but Tuda Murphy done well to save the first time shot.
With 78 minutes on the clock, McCartney completed his second hat trick of the season. Davy Kee chipped the ball through and the Sligo man produced a thumping long range lobbed finish for one of the goals of the season.
Substitute Andy Crawford added a fourth on 82 minutes when he played the ball around the last defender before calmly shooting into the net to complete a fine victory.
Half time draw winner was 6613 won by Willy Eaton. There are still some programmes left over from the match also.
Match photos now online.
Team: Rouse, Koehane, Liggett, Carters, Phair, McKenna (O'Grady), McManus (Crawford), Curran, McCartney, Campbell (Feeney)
|  | Vs Cliftonville (23rd Feb, Home, League)
MATCH SPONSORS: EADIE McFARLAND & CO, EAST BRIDGE STREET, ENNISKILLEN
Joe Gormley's wonder strike on 69 minutes gave Cliftonville a massive 3 points in their chase for the Gibson Cup, just when it looked like the game was going to end in a stalemate.
Manager Whitey Anderson handed a first team debut at right back to teenager Gary Phair (pictured right) after he had impressed in the two recent friendly games, and the Lisnaskea man went on to having a storming game against the league's most prolific strike force.
It was the league leaders who had the better of the early chances with Rouse tipping over a Stephen Garrett header and then Danny Koehane clearing off the goal line.
The away side did have the ball in the net on 14 minutes when Rouse saved a cross a goal bound shot, only for the ball to bounce off Gormley and into the net. However the ace marksman was standing in an offside position.
The Mallards best chance of the half arrived on 25 minutes but they found Chris Curran's ex Man United team mate Conor Devlin in top form. The goal keeper first saved a fierce Ryan Campbell shot, and then denied Jason McCartney twice on the follow up leaving Ferney Park in disbelief.
The end to end action continued with Liam Boyce curling an effort narrowly wide of goal and O'Carroll again testing Rouse in the home goal.
The home side managed to carve out one last chance before the half time whistle however. Conor O'Grady switched the ball to Jason McCartney, and he drove towards the penalty area, but his deflected shot landed on the roof of the net.
McCartney yet again was denied after the restart. He twisted and turned in the box before launching a shot high towards the top corner of the net - the ball slipped from Devlin's grasp and against the cross bar, before he gathered again as Cliftonville survived.
Both sides became embroiled in a real battle and it was going to take something special to separate them - cue Gormley. The ex-Crumlin star player received a pass from the left, took one touch and fired a stunning strike high into the top right corner of the net.
Gormley almost added another just a few minutes later with a fierce strike, but the spin on the ball took it the wrong side of the post.
Boyce almost made it two with a header which went narrowly wide whilst Mark Stafford was unlucky not to snatch an equaliser, when his goalward bound header hit a Reds player and was cleared.
That result means that the Fermanagh side drop into 6th position with 3 games remaning before the split.
Winner of the half time draw was Robert Boyle with ticket number 10228. There are still some match programmes left over also.
Team: Rouse, Keohane, Stafford, Carters, Phair, Curran (Cashel), Kee, O'Grady (McManus), McCartney, Sheridan (Crawford), Campbell
|  | Vs Sligo Rovers (18th Feb, Away, Friendly)
Ballinamallard travelled to Sligo for the second of their League of Ireland friendly matches.
There were only 4 starters from the 11 who started against Donegal Celtic with a host of second and third team players given a run out.
Raffaele Cretero and Seamus Conneelly scored the opening 2 goals for the home side as they dictated the opening stages. Liam Martin was lively upfront for the Bit O Red, but it was their third goal from David Cawley that drew the applause on the night, with a stunning 30 yard strike into the top right hand corner.
The Mallards did have some chances in the first half however with both Ryan Campbell and Chris Curran spurning good opportunites.
Campbell hit the post in the second half whilst Stephen Sheridan scored a consolation goal late on after good pressure by McManus and Higginbotham.
The Mallards introduced a number of youth players in the latter stages of the game ahead of Saturday's clash with Cliftonville.
Team: Murphy, Keohane, Liggett, McKenna, Phair, Curran, Kee, Haveron, Cashel, McManus, Campbell
Subs used: McCartney, Coulter, O'Grady, Carrothers, Courtney, Sheridan, Higginbotham
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