Ballinamallard Utd 2 Carrick Rangers 0.

Matty Smyth and Jonathan Leddy bagged first half goals as Ballinamallard clinched their first league win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Carrick Rangers at Ferney Park today.

And it was a result that delighted manager Gavin Dykes who had taken time last week to consider his position.

"“I'm delighted for everybody at the club and I'm delighted for the players because I was absolutely gutted for them last week. It was a great response from them; in the first half we played some fantastic football and I was even happier with the second half because we defended really well and did everything the right way,” said Dykes.

Smyth gave the Mallards the lead with only six minutes gone as he headed home after Ross Taheny had knocked the ball back across the goal from a Richard Clarke free kick.

And the home side, who had the wind at their backs in the first half, doubled their lead in the 32nd minute as Leddy fired home from 25 yards.

Carrick did go close to pulling a goal back straight away but Richard Brush made a fine stop to deny Denver Gage as it remained 2-0 at the break.

The home side battled hard in the second half and in truth Carrick rarely looked like getting a way back into the game against a resolute defence.

And after Carrick were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Mark Edgar the Mallards comfortably saw things out to secure a thoroughly deserved three points.