Ballinamallard United staged a second-half comeback, overturning a one goal deficit at half-time to claim all three points against Newington and move up to seventh in the NIFL Championship table.

Newington took the lead through Ruaidhri Donnelly just before half-time, but two goals in five minutes from Callum Moorehead and Josh McIlwaine turned the game on its head in the second half.

With virtually a full squad to pick from manager Tommy Canning was able to select the same starting 11 that drew with Institute the previous Saturday.

Newington had dumped Premiership side Newry City out of the Irish Cup in their previous match, and they made a confident start.

The Mallards' defence repelled their first attack on goal, but Newington came within inches of taking the lead moments later when Jamie Ray touched a shot onto the post, and the defence scrambled the loose ball clear.

As the half progressed Ballinamallard started to gain a foothold in the match and show some of the football that has earned them four wins from their last six games.

Winger Callum Moorehead was an influential figure in the first half, and he delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area that narrowly evaded his strike partners.

He then had a long-range effort fly over the bar, before getting on the end of Darragh Byrne’s cross, but again he could not keep his effort down.

Goalkeeper Dean Smith was then called upon to smother a shot as Moorehead advanced on goal, and when the Newington keeper was beaten by Simon Warrington, he was rescued by the assistant referee’s offside flag.

The Mallards continued to pour forward in search of the opening goal, and Alex Holder was the next to be denied by Smith before Aaron Harkin curled a free kick just over the bar.

Top scorer Warrington then had a point-blank effort saved and Byrne fired wide of the post.

Despite all Ballinamallard’s pressure, on the stroke of half-time, it was the home team that took the lead.

Referee Neil Robinson had instructed Holder to leave the field with blood on his finger, and while he was off the field a long ball forward from centre-back Eamon Hughes was flicked on, and Donnelly slotted past Jamie Ray.

Ballinamallard continued to hold the upper hand at the start of the second half, and they grabbed a deserved equaliser just after the hour mark.

Josh McIlwaine had been introduced from the substitute’s bench in place of Simon Warrington, and he was on the pitch for two minutes before setting up the leveller.

He held the ball up before releasing James McGrath down the right. The midfielder fired a shot across the keeper that struck the foot of the post, but Moorehead was on hand to tap home the rebound for his second league goal of the season.

The turnaround was completed five minutes later, but the winning goal was shrouded in controversy.

McIlwaine collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and turned the defender before rifling a shot into the corner of the net, but the referee whistled for offside despite the absence of an offside flag.

Discussions between the officials ensued, with the assistant referee insisting there was no offside infringement.

The referee then ruled that his whistle had not blown before the ball struck the back of the net, permitting him to award the goal to the delight of Ballinamallard’s travelling support.

Ballinamallard then had opportunities to make the game safe but McIlwaine fired wide, and McGrath and Moorehead were both denied by the keeper.

In the dying moments, Newington carved out a late chance, but the shot went wide of Ray’s post and the Mallards clung on for a valuable three points.