Mallards beat ’Stute to set up cup final against Dergview

Ballinamallard will play Dergview in the final of the Eventsec North West Senior Cup after a 2-1 victory over Institute at Ferney Park on Tuesday evening.

First-half goals from Callum Moorehead and Reece Byrne, and an injury time goal from Josh McIlwaine, earned them a place in the final, as they look to regain the trophy they won for the first time in 2020.

Ballinamallard boss Harry McConkey wanted to dedicate the win to the fans, as the Mallards bounced back in style from their weekend league defeat to Ards.

“We had supporters who came all the way to Bangor on Saturday, and that must have been a horrible day for them, so I am just delighted that we can give the local supporters and the sponsors something to celebrate.

“That is the pleasing thing, and I know the boys will be delighted about that as well,” said Harry after the game.

“We have come tonight and we have performed well. Again, we made it hard for ourselves when we could have killed the game off.

“We presented them with their first goal, but the great thing was that we kept coming back and I was delighted for those lads that got their game time tonight and have shown that they can take the pressure of a semi-final.

“Our supporters would love to get to a cup final, and yet I have had people working so hard all pre-season and you want those players to be rewarded for that, so you have to give them game time when you have the opportunity.

“They will have come out the other side of it with more confidence, and that was something we needed to build on this week, and we need to build on that again on Saturday.”

McConkey opted to ring the changes for the cup tie, with only goalkeeper Jamie Ray, Colm McLaughlin and BJ Banda retaining their places from Saturday’s defeat to Ards, but the new-look 11 made a great start, going ahead in the seventh minute with a goal created and scored by ex-Institute player Callum Moorehead.

The winger made a jinking run in off the left side across the face of the penalty area, where he was brought down.

He picked himself up off the ground, and curled the free kick from 20 yards into the bottom corner of the net.

Flowing move

Moments later, a flowing move almost brought goal number two.

Reece Byrne won possession in the middle of the pitch and ran at the Institute defence before playing a reverse pass to Moorehead, who laid it outside to Edgar, but the midfielder’s shot was touched around the post.

From McManus’ corner, the ball took a deflection off a defender at the front post and deflected up onto the crossbar before being cleared.

Ballinamallard appeared in control of the game, but against the run of play Institute grabbed an equaliser when a long ball caused confusion in the Mallards’ defence and Liam Walsh nipped in to round the keeper and tap into the empty net.

That initiated a long spell where defences were on top, with Ballinamallard’s goal efforts coming from a Holder shot over the bar and a McManus effort deflected wide.

On 37 minutes, the Mallards reclaimed the lead when Reece Byrne exchanged passes with Ryan Morris, and from 20 yards rifled a low shot into the corner of the net.

Before half time there was still time for John Edgar to come close, latching on to a Darragh Byrne cross, but shooting narrowly wide.

BJ Banda then had a free kick turned behind by Doherty early in the second half, and the striker had another effort saved after good build-up play by John Edgar.

Ballinamallard were looking increasingly dangerous going forward, and after failing to capitalise on several promising breaks, Reece Byrne burst down the right and cut the ball back for McManus, but his shot from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper.

Jamie Ray was called into action to save from Shaun Doherty, and moments later the teenager reacted well again to save at close range from Bradley. ’Stute also had a strong penalty claim waved away as they pressed for an equaliser, while at the other end, Arkinson blasted into the side netting.

A glorious chance

Ballinamallard had a glorious chance to seal the victory with seven minutes remaining when a Banda cross was headed back across goal, but the keeper managed to smother Reece Byrne’s shot from six yards.

Institute then had an opportunity to score, but Brogan’s header was superbly saved by the feet of Ray.

In injury time, a driving run from the impressive Byrne provided Banda with a chance, but the keeper got down well to save, but there was still time for a late goal from the home side when McIlwaine converted McCartney’s cross at the front post to seal their place in the final.

The two sides meet again on Saturday when Institute again make the journey to Ferney Park, but McConkey does not believe the outcome of the semi-final will have much bearing on the league encounter.

“I have said to the players that there is a great danger that even subconsciously they could think that they have won this game so you should win Saturday, but that is clearly not the case.

“We have both had a look at each other, and there will certainly be changes for both teams. They are a very dangerous team to play, and they will know us after tonight, but equally we know them.

“We need to be consistent in our performances and I think if we are consistent we can give them a good game on Saturday, but if we are anything below, or anything like the second half last week against Ards, we will struggle again, and that is not something any of us want at this stage.”

Ballinamallard Captain Richard Clarke will again be missing through injury, as will Ben McCann, who is expected to be out for up to four weeks with a groin tear.

Rory Brown and Dean Curry will both face late fitness tests ahead of Saturday’s fixture.