Ballinamallard 1 Portadown 2

Ballinamallard went down 2-1 to bottom of the table Portadown at Ferney Park today.

The Mallards started the game brightly and bossed the early exchanges with Adam Lecky volleying over the bar from a Liam McMenamin cross while Ryan Mayse had an effort pushed behind for a corner by Ports goalkeeper Chris McGaughey.

Jason McCartney also pulled a shot wide of the goal as the home side bossed matters but Portadown were dangerous at times and Matthew Parker forced a good save out of James McGrath before the visitors took the lead in the 36th minute with their first goal in 491 minutes of league action.

Johnny Lafferty was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Haire and Niall Henderson stepped up to send McGrath the wrong way from the spot.

Ballinamallard did have a penalty shout of their own at the end of the half when Lecky appeared to be hauled to the ground but referee Mervyn Smyth waved away their appeals as Portadown went in at the break a goal to the good.

And Vinny Arkins side doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half. Ballinamallard failed to deal with a hopeful ball played forward and Robert Garrett was on hand to pull the ball back for Stephen Hughes who swept a shot low to the corner for 2-0.

However, Ballinamallard were right back in it on 57 minutes as Niall Owens' delightful cross from the left found the head of Shane McGinty who steered it past Chris McGaughey in the Ports goal.

The Mallards then had chances to snatch an equaliser but Shane McCabe pushed a shot wide while Ryan Mayse missed a glorious chance when he headed wide from close range after good work  by Lecky.

In the end though the Mallards were able to find a second goal as Portadown held on to end a losing streak of six games and give Arkins the perfect start as Interim manager.