Mallards draw keeps them on track
Published 21 Jan 2012 09:30
Ballinamallard kept their hopes of promotion to the premiership alive. But it took a mighty effort to secure a draw in a great contest and results going well elsewhere to keep them on track.
The Mallards were behind at half time to a good Institute outfit, but a second half goal by substitute Stephen Sheridan gained a deserved point.
Mallards could have won it late on when a brilliant save denied Mark Stafford.
But really a draw was fair enough on the day.
The crowd enjoyed a competitive encounter. Both sides had their moments, both played decent football and the contest was livened up with some bad tempered jostling in the second period.
Pre kick off news was the return of Craig Hill from Scottish football, when he was named in the starting line-up ar right back in place of Mark McConkey,suffering from flu all week.
Hill and his fellow defenders were busy enough es 'Stute started with some purpose bidding to improve on their fouth position..
The powerfully built Parkhouse and Kelly were a handful. but the opener when it came was courtesy of Coleraine's on loan Darren McCauley.
McKeever sent in the corner from the left and McCauley found space to get in a looping header into the top corner.
Mallards came more into the game in the second quarter but didn't pose any serious goal threat.
They lost Feeney to a recurrence of an injury before half-time, and he was replaced by sub Sheridan.
This was to prove significant. The youngsters powerful running gave Crawford good support in the second half.
In fact, Sheridan was to provide the first real action within a minute of the restart when broke clear at the main road end and clipped in a sot which bounced off the post to safety.
There was some controversy when Crawford went down in the box. It was disputed whether it was a foul, but it was clearly inside.
Referee Campbell blew for the infringement, but then gave it outside the area.
McCartney hit the free kick well over the bar.
The game then entered it's bad tempered phase with Andy Crawford squaring up to a number of 'Stute defenders, a couple of whom performed their dying swan acts in collapsing to the ground.
Minutes later there were a couple of infield melees and even one confrontation between the two benches.
The ref was struggling to keep control, but thankfully it all settled down.
The vistors defence were under increasing pressure though and midway through the half came the deserved equaliser.
Crawford chased down the defence who failed to deal with him, keeper Wilson spilled it and Sheridan was on hand to slot it into an empty net.
Mallards looked the more likely in the final quarter but the visitors also had their moments.
'Stute keeper Wilson ensured his side brought a point home to Derry though when he saved a point blank header from Stafford in the dying minutes.
It was a good enough point in itself for Mallards, but even more valuable when the results showed that all games in the division ended in draws.
Ballinamallard: McGrath, Hill, Stafford, Carters, Keohane, Curran, Kee, Hutchinson, McCartney, Feeney (Sheridan) , Crawford (McKenna).
Institute: Wilson, Roddy, Jarvis, Crown, McLaughlin, McBride, Carlisle, McCauley, Parkhouse, Kelly, McKeever.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 21 Jan 12
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