Late, late drama as injury time own goal secures Mallards Premiership status

(Ballinamallard won 5-4 on aggregate)

There was unbbelievable late drama at Ferney Park tonight as an own goal four minutes into injury time saw the Mallards secure their Premiership status for another season as they claimed a 5-4 aggregate victory over Institute.

Ballinamallard looked to be down and out as the game rolled towards 90 minutes with Institute ahead 3-2 on the night and ahead on the away goal rule.

And the Mallards cause was further hit when Liam McMenamin was then red carded.

However, a corner deep into injury time saw the Mallards send everybody forward, including goalkeeper Alvin Rouse, and Jake Dykes headed on Jason McCartney's corner which clipped off the head of Institute defender Mark Scoltock and over the line to send the Mallards supporters wild.

If truth be told, it was harsh on Institute who played some tidy football over the course of the contest having went into the game 2-1 down from the first leg. That game had been played bearly seven weeks ago with the second leg delayed due to the Gary Haveron suspension row.

And with 17 minutes on the clock they took the lead as Jamie Dunne's low shot hit the back of the net.

The Mallards, with new manager Gavin Dykes in the dugout as Whitey Anderson served a suspension,  were level though within four minutes as Emmet Friars rose to head home a McCartney free kick to  make it 1-1 on the night and 3-2 to the Mallards on aggregate.

However, with 27 minutes gone Institute got their noses back in front as Gareth Brown converted a low cross and at the break it was all to play for the sides level on aggregate.

It was advantage Ballinamallard once more on the hour mark as they levelled things for a second time on the night.

Johnny Lafferty was taken down in the box by Stephen O'Donnell and from the resultant corner Cathal Beacom emphatically fired home.

The Mallards joy though was short-lived as Institute responded within a minute through a cracking drive from Shane McGinty.

This goal put Institute ahead on the away goal rule and they looked like they would stay there as they dealt with whatever the Mallards had to throw at them.

In an end of season that has been defined by late goals though there was to be one last final twist as the Mallards somehow grabbed the goal they required right at the death to secure their place in the Premiership for a fifth successive season.