Ballinamallard lost their first home game of 2024 as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Portadown at Ferney Park.

Callum Moorehead had given the Ducks an early advantage after just six minutes, but Portadown equalised before half-time and snatched the winner midway through the second half.

Manager Tommy Canning had opted to make one change from the side that defeated Newington last time out, with Josh McIlwaine coming into the attack in place of Simon Warrington, who dropped to the bench.

Ballinamallard started brightly and a flowing move involving Aaron Harkin, Moorehead and McIlwaine earned the home team a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Harkin’s attempted shot was blocked by the wall, but the ball bounced to Darragh Byrne 20 yards out. His long-range effort was stopped by a defender but McIlwaine headed the rebound into the path of Richie Johnston, and his downwards header allowed Moorehead to blast past the keeper from close range.

Having gained an early advantage Ballinamallard struggled to build on their good start and Portadown’s Ryan Mayse just missed out on a simple tap-in at the back post when he could not stretch to reach Eamon Fyfe’s cross.

James McGrath saw a long-range speculative effort from 25 yards fly well wide of the post, but it was the visitors that were looking the more likely.

TJ Murray won the ball high up the pitch and his pass found Mayse, but the ex-Mallard saw his shot deflected into the arms of Jamie Ray.

Mayse then came close again, robbing Harkin of possession and lofting a shot goalwards that needed to be touched over the bar by Ray.

Seven minutes before half-time the visitors levelled the scores.

They won a free kick on the halfway line and caught Ballinamallard napping with a quickly taken effort that released Lee Chapman down the right wing.

Aaron Arkinson got back to make the tackle but the ball fell kindly for Jamie Browne, who fired past Ray from the corner of the six-yard box.

McIlwaine had a great chance to restore the Mallards' lead just before half-time when he collected a long pass from Ben McCann over the top of the Portadown defence, but with just the goalkeeper to beat, Gareth Buchanan blocked his effort.

Early in the second half Moorehead almost added to his opener.

Harkin won possession in midfield and found Moorehead on the right. The winger jinked inside the full-back and curled in a left-footed shot that clipped the top of the crossbar.

A much improved Ballinamallard were continuing to carve out chances and Darragh Byrne got in behind the defence on the left and cut the ball back but the visitors scrambled it clear.

Holder and McIlwaine then almost combined on the edge of the area, before McIlwaine was again denied by Buchanan, the keeper blocking his powerful header from six yards out with his legs.

Portadown came close when Eamon Fyfe broke clear down the left, but his low cross evaded an unmarked Zach Barr at the far post.

Harkin fired a free kick wide of the post from long range and McIlwaine headed wide from a corner, while at the other end, Ray had to make a low diving stop at his near post to deny Eamon Fyfe.

From the resulting corner, Portadown grabbed the winning goal, with the cross somehow bouncing through the penalty area to the back post, where Dougie Wilson blasted in from close range.

Ballinamallard struggled to carve out opportunities in the last quarter of the match, with Portadown holding on to take the points.

The defeat sees Ballinamallard slip to eighth in the NIFL Championship table.