Ballinamallard slipped to defeat tonight as they went down 1-0 to Glenavon at Ferney Park.

It was Gary Hamilton's Lurgan side who were the better side over the course of the contest and they were good value for their win which came courtesy of a low effort from Joel Cooper four minutes after half time.

The defeat leaves the Mallards tenth in the table, ahead of Dungannon Swifts on goal difference.

Glenavon were the brighter side from the off although the Mallards didn't help themselves with mistakes putting them in bother on a number of occasions.

Indeed, the first chance of the game came as the result of a poor clearance from Alvin Rouse that was picked up by Bradley although Rouse made amends for his error by pulling off a good save from Braniff.

The keeper also produced an excellent save from a James Singleton header following a Cooper cross from the left.

The Mallards best chance of the half came after 15 minutes when Michael McCrudden fed Liam Martin but he fired wide of the Glenavon goal.

Glenavon went on to boss the majority of the half but Ballinamallard did come into things at the end opening period and it took a fingertip save from goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey to push a Johnny Courtney drive around the post.

The Mallards worked hard in the second half but they never really threatened the Glenavon goal and with 49 minutes on the clock the away side swooped for what would prove to be the winner.

A clever flick by Braniff sent Cooper through and he skipped around a couple of challenges before planting a lot shot to the bottom corner.

Braniff then latched onto a loose pass from Jason McCartney but he hit the sidenetting from an acute angle while Eoin Bradley outmuscled Colm McLoughlin from a long ball forward to get through on goal but after lifting the ball over Rouse Bradley was denied by McLoughlin who got back to clear off the line.

In the end though Cooper's goal proved to be enough for Glenavon as they closed the gap on the top four in the table.