Ballinamallard survived a nail biting penalty shoot out against Tobermore to progress to the next round of the League Cup.
The third tier team pushed the Mallards all the way in a tight ninety minutes that ended 0-0, with Cameron Crawford saving the sixteenth spot kick to give the Premier League outfit the narrowest of wins.
Gavin Dykes opted to make a few changes with Crawford getting his first start of the season in goal and Ben McCann starting in the centre of defence.
Ryan Curran was back in the starting line up after being on the bench at the weekend, and the strength of the rest of the team was testament to the fact that the manager was keen to get his first win of the season.
Tobermore showed little fear as they carved out the first sight of goal when McAuley fired over the bar from twenty five yards before Ryan Curran headed over from a Shane McGinty cross. Tobermore’s best opportunity came when Colm McLaughlin lost possession and Lamont’s low shot from 15 yards was gathered by Crawford. Conor Kearns also tested the Ballinamallard keeper and Lamont had a shot saved.
Two minutes before the break it finally looked as though the Mallards had forced a breakthrough when McGinty’s free kick sparked a scramble inside the six yard box, but Finlay made a good stop to keep his team level.
On the stroke of half time McGinty made a run across the area and found Ryan Curran, but his vicious low strike was batted away by Finlay at full stretch.
The start of the second half was devoid of goal mouth action until the 57th minute when McGinty’s cross almost released Martyn, but a poor first touch allowed the keeper to pounce on the loose ball, and the pair combined again five minutes later when Martyn headed McGinty’s free kick wide of the post. At the other end a moment of inspiration from McAuley almost gave Tobermore the lead. His long range effort from 35 yards had Crawford scrambling back towards his goal, but the lofted shot came off the top of the crossbar.
McIlwaine and McCartney came off the bench to try to make an impact for the premiership team and they quickly combined, with McIlwaine’s header tipped over the bar. As extra time approached Leddy blasted one over the bar but neither side could find a breakthrough before the extra half an hour.
In the first minute of extra time McGinty burst through on the right but his shot was well saved. McIlwaine then laid the loose ball back to Leddy who again blasted over. Ballinamallard were starting to look the more dangerous, and McGinty fired narrowly wide after good work from Curran. McIlwaine was the next to get a shot away but he dragged his effort wide of the post and in the dying seconds curled a shot past the post, but neither side could prevent a penalty shoot out.
From the penalty spot McCartney, Clarke, Curran, Leddy, McIlwaine, McCann, Smyth and McLaughlin all found the back of the net and it fell to Cameron Crawford to save Tobermore’s eighth spot kick and seal Ballinamallard’s place in the next round.