Dungannon Swifts 2 Ballinamallard Utd 2 Niall Owens grabbed a late equaliser as Ballinamallard twice came from behind to snatch a share of the spoils against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park on Tuesday night.

The Mallards looked set for defeat when Douglas Wilson rattled home in the 86th minute to make it 2-1 to the home side and Ballinamallard were then reduced to ten men after Adam Lecky picked up a second yellow card.

However, there was to be a final twist in the tail as the Mallards produced an incisive break and Ryan Mayse fed teenager Owens who kept his head to calmly slot the ball into the corner to leave it 2-2 at the finish.

Gavin Dykes side could not have got off to a worse possible start as Swifts came flying out of the blocks to grab an early lead.

Indeed, Ballinamallard had hardly got a foot to the ball by the time the home side had taken the lead in the second minute through a well taken Jamie Glackin header.

Jarlath O’Rourke clipped the ball into the box from the left and Glackin timed his run perfectly to steer a header into the corner.

The away side were at sixes and sevens early on and Paul McElroy sent a curling effort just over the bar before Ballinamallard had their first effort of note in the 13 minute but Johnny Lafferty’s thumping drive was comfortably gathered by Andy Coleman.

18 goal striker Andrew Mitchell then had a good chance to double the advantage when he latched on to a slip in the Mallards defence but the front man blazed high and wide.

Ballinamallard did settle into the contest as the half progressed but they struggled to breakdown the home rear-guard. However, Adam Lecky did have an opportunity but he headed wide from Jason McCartney’s corner as the Swifts remained in front at the break.

Dungannon had a great chance to double their lead four minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty after Colm McLaughlin, who impressed on his return from long term injury, upended McElroy. However, Crawford pulled off a fine save to deny Mitchell while moments later Crawford was at it again as he got out quickly to make a save from David Armstrong.

The Mallards though did start to pose more of a threat with Mayse a livewire on the right and he managed to tee up Lecky but he fired over the bar.

Ballinamallard’s top scorer though was not to miss when presented with a chance to score from the penalty spot in the 65th minute. The big striker dusted himself down after being fouled by Wilson and he coolly sent Coleman the wrong way to level up proceedings.

Dungannon were close to regaining the lead with 15 minutes to go when Wilson’s free kick deflected off the wall and was pushed on to the bar by Crawford before it was cleared and it looked as if they had snatched all three points when Wilson’s well struck effort found the back of the net after Ballinamallard failed to clear from a corner in the 86th minute.

Lecky was then given his marching orders after he was shown a second yellow card but the lively Owens was to have the final say.

The Mallards won possession in the middle of the park and Mayse carried forward before laying the ball into Owens who fired low to the corner in added on time to secure a deserved point for his side.

Dungannon Swifts A. Coleman, C. Hegarty, D. Wilson, D. Armstrong, J. Glackin, A. Mitchell, R. Harpur, A. Teggart (T. Lockhart 83mins), J. O’Rourke, P. McElroy (S. Lavery 70mins), P. McMahon (C. Burke 70mins) Ballinamallard C. Crawford, C. McLaughlin, S. McCabe, S. McGinty, J. McKenna (L. McMenamin 43mins), J. Lafferty, J. McCartney, R. McConnell, A. Lecky, R. Mayse, J. McIlwaine (N. Owens)