Mallards denied a point at the death

Ballinamallard were denied a share of the spoils against Portadown at Ferney Park today as a Kevin Braniff free kick in the sixth minute of added on time snatched all three points for the visitors.

And a share of the points was the very least that Harry McConkey's side deserved from the game.

The Mallards enjoyed the better of the exchanges and were denied by the woodwork on three occasions over the course of the contest.

The excellent Ryan Campbell hit the base of the post as early as the sixth minute but a minute later the Ports had taken the lead as Jamie Douglas turned home after the home side had failed to deal with a low cross from the left.

However, with Gary Henderson and Chris Kelly impressing in the middle of the park Ballinamallard pressed hard for an equaliser and Kelly saw a speculative effort come back off the crossbar while Campbell and Ben McCann both went close.

And the equaliser did arrive ten minutes into the second half as Jason Mcartney's cross was not cleared by the visitors and Campbell picked up the ball and slotted a low drive to the bottom corner.

Campbell was again denied by the woodwork midway through the half after he was slipped through by McCartney.

The game looked as if it was going to end in a draw but right at the death Portadown were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and Braniff stepped up to clip the ball over the wall and into the top corner to send the Ports home with the win.