Ballinamallard Utd 1 Cliftonville 1.

Ballinamallard secured their first point of the season as a determined display saw them play out a 1-1 draw against Cliftonville at Ferney Park today.

Gavin Dykes side rode their luck at times in the second half with impressive loan signing Aaron Canning clearing one shot off the line while Cliftonville saw another effort hit the inside of the post but the Mallards boss was happy with the response he got from this players following the 6-2 defeat to Glenavon on Tuesday night.

"“We are delighted with the point. We dug in and showed great character and great heart. It has been a tough week but I got great reaction from the players and hopefully we can push on,” he said.

The Mallards took the lead midway through the first half as Ryan Curran netted his fourth goal of the season.

Richard Clarke's shot from the edge of the area hit the arm of Reds defender Garry Breen and Curran sent goalkeeper Brett Long the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.

Cliftonville though were back on level terms before the break as Breen sent a thumping header from a Marty Donnelly cross beyond Mallards netminder Richard Brush.

The visitors threatened a second early on in the second half but Canning, who was thrown straight into the starting line up after signing on loan on Thursday, was on hand to clear Marty Donnelly's effort off the line.

Jay Donnelly was then unlucky to see his shot beat Brush only to come off the base of the post and back into Brush's arms.

Joe Gormley had a chance to win it for Cliftonville in the 83rd minute when he raced on to a through ball but Brush was alive to the danger was was quickly out to make the save as the Mallards held on for a point.