Ballinamallard 2 Dergview 2

Ten-man Ballinamallard lost a 2-0 half-time lead as Dergview scored deep into injury to snatch a draw in the Boxing Day derby at Ferney Park.

The Mallards dominated the first half and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to two strikes from BJ Banda, but the late sending off of goalkeeper Jamie Ray proved pivotal.

Having conceded a goal early in the second half, the Mallards were forced to put defender Ryan Morris in goal for the closing minutes, and the ten men conceded in the fourth minute of injury time to miss out on a morale-boosting win that would have lifted them into the top half of the league table.

The match was Ballinamallard’s first competitive fixture for three weeks, and the Manager had made four changes from that previous game against Loughgall.

Shane McGinty returned from a three-match suspension to join the returning Darragh Byrne, Patrick Ferry and Jamie Ray. Michael Lynch made way for 18-year-old Ray in goal, with Ruairi Sludden and Ryan Morris dropping to the bench and Peter Maguire missing out entirely.

Manager Harry McConkey had called on his side to make a fast start, and the home team were quickly on the front foot.

Dergview goalkeeper Patrick McGarvey was called into action after seven minutes when he made a double save, but he could do nothing two minutes later when BJ Banda fired into the corner of the net from 20 yards out.

The striker had only one league goal to his name prior to kick-off, but Dergview were struggling to contain him, and he almost turned provider moments after his goal, but his dangerous cross into the penalty area evaded everyone.

McGinty then tested McGarvey, before Banda doubled his tally on 27 minutes when he picked up possession just outside the penalty area and ghosted past two defenders before firing a low shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net.

Dergview thought they had been offered a great chance to haul themselves back into the match when referee Diarmuid Harrigan pointed to the penalty spot following a challenge inside the area, but after conferring with his assistant referee, he reversed his original decision.

The reprieve gave the Mallards a new lease of life and Patrick Ferry had a chance to extend their lead, but the busy McGarvey kept his shot out.

Dergview grabbed a lifeline 12 minutes into the second half when Bobby Deane headed in from close range from a corner, but the home team were still carving out chances of their own.

Mark Stafford headed wide at the back post from a corner, and Banda came close to completing his hat-trick when his header from Caolan McAleer’s cross flew narrowly wide of the post.

Dergview did have the ball in the net for the second time but it was ruled out for offside, before McGinty fired just wide and McAleer had a shot saved for the Mallards.

With four minutes remaining, teenage Ballinamallard goalkeeper Jamie Ray was adjudged to have brought down Mikhail Kennedy when through on goal, and Harrigan brandished a Red Card.

With no goalkeeper on the substitute’s bench, defender Ryan Morris donned the gloves for the closing minutes, but he was beaten when ex Mallard Sam Robb’s cross wasn’t dealt with by the defence, and Kennedy blasted into the corner of the net.

The injury time goal ensured the third consecutive draw between the two clubs, with Ballinamallard remaining in eighth place in the Championship table.