Ballinamallard 4-0 Bangor

Ballinamallard’s faint hopes of a top-half finish in the NIFL Championship were ended on Saturday, as Bangor won at Ferney Park for the second time this season.

The visitors took the lead after just four minutes, and the Mallards were then made to pay for missing a succession of first-half chances as Bangor wrapped up the victory with a late first-half goal and two more in the second period.

Manager Tommy Canning had reshuffled his team from the draw against Dergview, with Dean Corrigan coming in to replace Ryan Morris as part of a back three.

Alex Holder returned from suspension as Aaron Harkin dropped to the bench, with Darragh Byrne missing out in favour of Simon Warrington.

Bangor came into the match with only one defeat in their last 14 league games. That run had taken them to second in the NIFL Championship table, and they started like a team high in confidence, taking the lead with just four minutes on the clock when a deep cross towards the back post was headed back across goal by Ben Arthurs, and Scott McArthur volleyed past Jamie Ray.

Ballinamallard’s first sight of goal came after 10 minutes when James McGrath delivered a low cross into the area, but Josh McIlwaine’s effort was gathered on the goal line by goalkeeper James Taylor.

Midway through the half Simon Warrington was gifted a great opportunity when he intercepted Taylor’s attempted clearance, but with just the recovering keeper to beat, he found the side netting with his shot.

The Mallards continued to threaten and Callum Moorehead’s cross had to be clawed away by Taylor, but Ballinamallard worked the ball back into the area and McIlwaine’s cut-back was side-footed wide by an unmarked McGrath from 12 yards.

McGrath then headed wide from the edge of the six-yard box, and moments later McIlwaine’s header flew inches past the post.

Despite the Ballinamallard pressure, it was Bangor who scored the second goal on the stroke of half-time.

A corner from the right was headed into the six-yard box and Lewis Francis swivelled and fired high into the net past Ray.

Each of the previous two fixtures between the sides this season had ended 3-0 to the away side, and Bangor looked likely to repeat that scoreline early in the second half when Arthurs found himself through on goal, but Ray stood up to block his effort.

Ray was again called into action soon after when Aaron Harkin was robbed of possession, diving to his right to cling onto a shot from Arthurs.

Ballinamallard were struggling to carve out the chances they had in the opening 45 minutes, and as they pushed forward to try to get back into the game Bangor netted a third in the 77th minute when Ryan Morris lost possession close to his own corner flag and Adam Neale crossed for Arthurs to head in from close range.

Ballinamallard had a late chance when Richies Johnston’s header from Harkin's corner was well saved, but Bangor sealed the points when Lewis Harrison headed in a fourth from a corner deep into added time.