Ballyclare Comrades 4 Ballinamallard United 2 (aet)

Ballinamallard United lost a two goal lead as Ballyclare Comrades knocked them out of the League Cup after extra time on Tuesday night.

Goals from Reece Byrne and John Edgar had given the visitors a two goal advantage after just 20 minutes, but Ballyclare forced the game into added time with two penalties, and sealed their place in the next round with a goal in either half of extra time.

Ballinamallard manager Harry McConkey decided to ring the changes for the cup game, making five alterations from the starting 11 that went down to Dundela in their last league game.

Captain Richard Clarke and BJ Banda were not risked, with Mark Stafford taking the armband. In goals Jamie Ray came in for his first start of the season in place of Michael Lynch, with the Byrne brothers, Reece and Darragh, also coming back into the starting line up along with John Edgar and Joshua McIlwaine. Lee Warnock dropped out, as did Shane McGinty and Aaron Arkinson.

Goalmouth action

The two clubs had already faced each other at Dixon Park in the league this season when they played out a goalless draw on the opening day of the Championship season, but the opening few minutes of the League Cup game provided goalmouth action at either end with Ray producing a point blank save to keep out a header and a diving stop moments later, while Caolan McAleer fired over the crossbar for the visitors.

In a frantic opening to the match the Mallards took the lead after 28 minutes when Reece Byrne slotted home after John Edgar’s initial shot was saved.

Five minutes later the visitors had doubled their lead when midfielder Edgar beat the offside trap and fired coolly fired past the keeper, but Ballyclare continued to push forward and they pulled a goal back after 37 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for handball after the ball struck Stafford’s arm from close range.

Just before half time Stafford had a chance to restore the Mallard’s two goal advantage, but his header from a corner was cleared off the line.

The third quarter of the game was lacking in goalmouth action, but with 20 minutes remaining Comrades had a great chance to level the match when they were awarded a second penalty but Jamie Ray dived to his right to keep the ball out.

It was a short lived reprieve, however, as referee Raymond Crangle awarded Ballyclare a third penalty six minutes later after a rash challenge from Ronan McKinley, and this time the home team made no mistake from 12 yards.

With the game entering added time Ballinamallard had a strong penalty claim of their own when McAleer’s cross appeared to strike the outstretched hand of the defender, but Crangle waved away the Mallard’s appeals.

Stafford then came within inches of a late winner, but his deflected header was superbly tipped over the bar by the Ballyclare keeper.

The home team started extra time strongly and ten minutes into the first period they took the lead for the first time when substitute Curran found the corner of the net.

Ballinamallard responded well and had efforts from Stafford, McAleer and McGinley, but they could not find the goal that would take them to penalties, and in the final minute Comrades added a breakaway fourth to knock the Mallards out of the cup.