Ballinamallard Reserves 5 Enniskillen Galaxy 1

Ballinamallard Reserves completed an unbeaten Division Three league campaign with a 5-1 victory over Enniskillen Galaxy that ended Galaxy’s hopes of promotion to Division Two.

The Mallards had already sealed the league title with two games remaining but finished their campaign in typically convincing fashion thanks to braces from Conor Stewart and Cameron Lucas, and a late strike from Cory Porter on his Reserve team debut.

Mallards’ manager Ally Irwin was delighted that his side was able to put their name in the record books as undefeated over the league campaign.

“It is a rare achievement regardless of the division you are in,” he said.

“To come away from a 16-game season with 14 wins gives us nothing to be unhappy about. The boys have achieved the goal we set for them this season, which was not just to win Division Three but be one of the teams that will be talked about as one of the most successful by dominating it.

“It was very pleasing to come away with a win in a game where we had so many under-18s and three debutants coming off the bench, one of whom was an under-16. It is giving youth a chance, which is what we want as a club.

"We have a lot of talent but we are very young and I think two or three experienced players through the spine of the team will really help us compete next year as we look to get back into the first division.”

Galaxy were unfortunate not to have beaten the Mallards in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, succumbing to an injury-time equaliser, but the newly crowned league champions were in front after 15 minutes this time around.

Henry Miskimmin drove forward from defence and released Adam Cathcart. His cutback was delivered into the penalty area by Charlie Clendinning, and Stewart looped a header over Callum Walker in the Galaxy goal.

Two minutes later Lucas rifled in a low shot from 25 yards to extend their lead, and the right back added his second of the game after 35 minutes when he converted Shane Speak’s corner kick.

Galaxy pulled a goal back before half-time when Dooris converted Hadyn Love’s pass, but Ballinamallard restored their three-goal cushion 10 minutes into the second half when Cameron Lucas won the ball high up the pitch, fed it to Cathcart, who laid off to Clendinning to square it for Stewart to score.

Calvin Brown in the Ballinamallard goal saved a penalty to retain their advantage, and with two minutes remaining the home team added a fifth when Stewart’s trickery and pinpoint cross set up a tap-in for Porter.

Galaxy had approached the game knowing they needed a victory and for other results to go their way if they were to join Ballinamallard in Division Two next season, but the defeat sealed their fate as Newtownstewart United secured the remaining promotion spot.