Ards 2 Ballinamallard Utd 0 An Injury plagued Ballinamallard suffered a third straight league defeat in a row as they went down 2-0 to Ards to in Bangor tonight.

Gavin Dykes' side had the chance to leapfrog their opponents into ninth with a win but they never looked like taking the points as the home side moved four clear of tenth placed Mallards.

Dykes' side were without the likes of Shane McCabe, James McKenna and Ryan McConnell and worryingly also lost Stuart Hutchinson and Josh McIlwaine to injury during the game.

Ards went in at the break with the advantage as Michael Ruddy converted from the spot ten minutes before half time after a foul by goalkeeper Richard Brush.

The Mallards had a chance to level before half time but Jay McCartney failed to connect with a Ryan Mayse cross while the referee waved away Ballinamallard penalty appeals following a challenge on Shane McGinty as it remained 1-0 at the interval.

Ards were to secure the points though with 20 minutes to go as Keke slotted home and it was Ards who were to control things over the latter stages as they claimed the points.