With one minute of the ninety remaining on Saturday it seemed as if Ivan Sproule was set to round off his glittering career with the winning goal in a famous and historic Ballinamallard victory.
Football is no respecter of fairy tales however, and two late Carrick goals provided the winger with a very different memory of his final competitive game.
“It would have been a nice way to finish off my career, but in the lifetime I have played I have learnt that just when you think you have got it, it can all be snatched away so quickly,” he reflected.
“I thought I had maybe nicked the winner and kept us up but football is what football is, and just when you think you’ve made it, it can kick you right in the teeth!”
Sproule’s goal in the 42nd minute looked like it would be the decisive moment of the game, but once again Ballinamallard’s tendency to concede late goals resurfaced at the most inopportune time. It has happened on numerous occasions over the second half of the season, and Sproule admitted it is down to more than just bad luck. “We got what we deserved,” he said. “We have thrown away leads too many times this season, and that is a bad trait to have. It was in our own hands and we slipped up again, but all credit to Carrick who came and took the points. Although we gave 100 percent for 89 minutes there was that couple of crazy minutes at the end that has cost us. It’s a bitter pill to take. Maybe the boys looked tired. Maybe its inexperience. You can put it down to a hundred and one things and I think it has been the story of the season for Ballinamallard – there has just been that little bit missing.”
Despite being deprived of a winning finale to his career, Ivan will still try to help out the team as they approach the two legged play off. The winger will be suspended for both matches as he completes a suspension for his sending off against Warrenpoint, but he hopes his experience off the pitch can help influence the result.
“I will be fully behind the boys in the two play-off games and hopefully I can be about them and motivate them so they can go and keep the team in the division,” he said. “We still have a chance, that’s the thing. We were out of it and now we have got a lifeline again and a chance to win the last two games and stay in the league. It’s going to take big hearts, determination and we are going to have to be even cleverer than we have been.”
The speedy winger got a great reception from all sides of the ground when he was replaced in the 76th minute to bring the curtain down on a memorable 16 year playing career that saw him represent Omagh Town, Institute, Bristol City, Yeovil Town, Notts County, Hibs, Ross County, Linfield and finally Ballinamallard. He also made eleven appearances for Northern Ireland, scoring his one international goal against Estonia in a 1-0 victory at Windsor Park in 2006.
Ivan was full of praise for the travelling support at Carrick, and despite the drama and emotion of the day the thirty five year old made a very generous gesture to a group of Ballinamallard Academy kids as the disappointed team trudged back to the coach after the final whistle. Sproule stopped to chat to Tim and Alex Magee and Paddy Dillon, who had travelled to watch the match in Carrick after playing for the club’s Under 12 team in Limavady that morning. To their delight Ivan declared he “won’t be needing these any more” and delved into his kit bag to give the boys two pairs of his football boots.
On a disappointing day for the club, it ensured at least three supporters left the ground smiling.