Dylan Boyle scored his first senior goal as Ballinamallard ended a run of two consecutive defeats with a 2-0 victory over Annagh United.

The Mallards leapfrogged over their opponents to eighth in the NIFL Championship table, with Peter Maguire scoring his third goal of the season to wrap up the victory.

Both sides came into the match after back to back defeats in the league, and manager Tommy Canning made three changes to the starting line up in a bid to return to winning ways.

Jamie Dunne was available again after a one game suspension and he returned to the side along with Aaron Harkin and Alex Holder, who had recovered from injury.

Richie Johnston, Josh McIlwaine and Dylan Boyle all dropped to the substitute’s bench.

The last meeting of the two sides had resulted in a goalless draw that led to Harry McConkey losing his position as Ballinamallard manager, and in the early stages both sides again failed to find the back of the net.

Ballinamallard were looking the more likely to force a breakthrough however, and created chances in the early stages of the contest.

Just three minutes into the game Jamie Dunne ran at the Annagh defence, but his pass was too heavy as he tried to put Simon Warrington through on goal.

The Mallards continued to play on the front foot and they forced a succession of corners, with Ben McCann coming close to getting a crucial touch in front of goal.

A partially cleared corner gave the Mallard’s their next sight of goal, but when Peter Maguire whipped in a deep cross, Jamie Dunne’s header was gathered by Jason Craughwell in the Annagh goal.

Aaron Harkin then delivered a deep free kick to the back post and McCann headed it back across goal to an unmarked Ryan Morris, but the full back could not keep his header down and it flew over the crossbar.

Jamie Dunne was a constant outlet for Ballinamallard, and the winger got on the end of a cutback from Warrington, but his header was straight at the goal keeper.

With 73 minutes gone Canning brought on substitute Boyle for Darragh Byrne, and the teenager was on the pitch for eight minutes before the made the decisive breakthrough.

Another surging run from Jamie Dunne got him to the byline, and he cut the ball back to the edge of the penalty area for Boyle, who took a touch before lashing a shot in off the underside of the crossbar to give the Mallards the lead.

The victory was confirmed with two minutes of normal time remaining when Dunne won a free kick wide on the right, and Harkin’s delivery to the back post was headed in by Maguire.