Ballinamallard climbed above PSNI to ninth in the league table with a 3-0 victory at Ferney Park on Tuesday evening. A first half goal from top scorer Ryan Campbell was added to in the second half by goals from Joshua McIlwaine and another from Campbell as the Mallards equalled their biggest winning margin of the season.

Manager Harry McConkey had spent much of the opening months of the season frustrated at his inability to name a consistent team, but with no recent injures he was able to name the same starting eleven for the third league game in succession.

The two teams had played out a goalless draw just three weeks ago but Ballinamallard were looking to leap ahead of their opponents with a win at Ferney Park, and they controlled the first half as they picked up where they left off following their win over Knockbreda on Saturday.

The game was thirteen minutes old when the Mallards carved out their first chance. A flowing move saw Henderson released wing back Ross Taheny down the right. He cut inside the defender and found Joshua McIlwaine in the box. From twelve yards out the striker made a good contact with his volley, but it was blocked on the goal line.

The Ballinamallard back three were ensuring that Connolly was relatively untroubled between the posts, and a routine save from a long range shot was one of the rare occasions he was called into action in the first half. For all their possession Ballinamallard could not find the goal they deserved, and captain Clarke was the next to spurn an opportunity. Campbell outpaced the full back down the right and cut the ball back from the by-line, but Clarke skied his shot from 15 yards. After 35 minutes Ballinamallard again threatened. Ben McCann threaded a pass through to McIlwaine, who spun and got a shot away from inside the area but dragged it wide of the far post.

PSNI were being forced back, but they were able to break forward when Campbell lost possession in midfield. Dylan Wilson fired in a dangerous low cross but Reilly slid in to lift the ball over his own crossbar from six yards out. From the corner Henderson was called upon to hook clear from his own goalmouth, and having survived, Ballinamallard were ahead a minute later. A ball down the right channel was missed by the defender, allowing McIlwaine through on goal. He slid his shot underneath the keeper, and with the ball looking destined for the net, striker Ryan Campbell applied the finishing touch from a yard out.

Ballinamallard had a penalty claim turned down when Campbell appeared to be dragged to the ground just before the break, but they had to be content with a one goal advantage at the interval.

There was little to choose between the teams in the opening exchanges of the second half, but just before the hour mark the Mallards grabbed a goal that would swing the game decisively in their favour. A needlessly conceded corner was delivered into the box by McBrien, and an unmarked McIlwaine rose high at the far post to power a header into the net from six yards out. Five minutes later the result was put beyond doubt with a great counter attacking goal. From a PSNI comer Campbell picked up possession deep in his own half, and outpaced the PSNI defence, carrying the ball to the edge of the penalty area before rifling a shot low into the far corner.

The Mallards celebrations were curtailed when they suffered a double blow with both Jason McCartney and Darragh McBrien having to be withdrawn with hamstring injuries, and substitute Michael Glynn also had to make way after falling awkwardly. Sam Robb came off the bench and tested the goal keeper from twenty yards, and then set up Campbell but his hatrick attempt flew wide of the near post.

There were no late scares for the home team, as they kept a clean sheet on their way to a sixth consecutive league game without defeat.