Ballinamallard followed up Tuesday night's draw against Linfield with another well earned point against third placed Portadown at Ferney Park today.

The first half was an uneventful affair although it took a fine save from Feargal Murphy to deny Portadown the lead on the half hour mark as he got down low to push away a goal bound Gary Twigg effort.

The second half though was a much more lively affair. Portadown were a whisker away from opening the scoring in the 55th minute when Twigg met a cross from Peter McMahon but his header came off the underside of the crossbar as the Mallards survived.

Ballinamallard thought they had taken the lead in the 62nd minute when Anthony Elding turned in Colm McLoughlin's low centre but his effort was ruled out for offside.

It was then the turn of the Mallards to be denied by the woodwork as Mark Stafford steered his header from a Davy Kee free kick past Ports goalkeeper David Miskelly but onto the bar.

Murphy produced his second fine stop of the contest when he saved from Mark McAllister and McAllister was then to be given his marching orders from referee Mervyn Smyth when he was adjudged to have taken a dive in the box, a decision that angered Ports boss Ronnie McFall.

The Mallards pressed on in the final ten minutes and Miskelly pushed away a Currie effort as the sides had to settle for a point apiece.