Ballinamallard took another step closer to safety as they claimed a share of the spoils at home to Ballymena today.

The Mallards had the better of things over the course of the game but with neither side able to make the breakthrough they had to settle for a point apiece.

The draw leaves Ballinamallard two points ahead of second bottom Warrenpoint Town with two games to go, the pair to meet next Saturday in the final game of the season.

Before that Ballinamallard are at home to Dungannon on Tuesday.

The first half saw little flowing football with too many miss placed passes from both sides.

Ballymena had made the better start to the encounter with David Cushley having a free kick deflected away for a corner while Allen Jenkins had a shot that was easily collected by Feargal Murphy in the home goal.

As the half progressed though Ballinamallard did start to cause more difficulties for the Ballymena defence.

Cathal Beacom fired wide from the edge of the box and Ryan Campbell did likewise when he got on the end of Richard Lecky flick on.

And Mallards captain was within a whisker of opening the scoring in the 35th minute when he rose to met a Beacom free kick but his header came back of the junction of the post and crossbar as the game remained scoreless at the break.

Ballinamallard had the better of the contest after the break with Beacom and Stafford having early chances although at the other end Darren Boyce dragged a shot wide.

As the game drew to a close Stafford got on the end of a Jason McCartney header but his effort was superbly saved by Aaron Shanahan in the Ballymena goal as the game finished in a 0-0 draw.