Ballinamallard Utd 0 Coleraine 2

Ballinamallard slipped to another defeat as they went down 0-2 to table toppers Coleraine at Ferney Park today.

Ian Parkhill's deflected strike gave the Bannsiders the lead in the first half and they wrapped things up five minutes from time when Brad Lyons tucked home.

Coleraine bossed matters throughout the first half and only for another top drawer performance from Mallards goalkeeper Richard Brush they would have been futher behind at the break.

Brush denied Jamie McGonigle three times in the opening ten minutes while he also saved from Ciaron Harkin and Lyons in a one sided first half.

The Mallards though lifted their game after the break and Ryan Curran fired just wide as they went looking for an equaliser.

The visitors though put the game to bed in the 85th minute as Lyons produced a composed finish to see them maintain their six point lead at the top of the Premiership table.

Dykes accepted that his side were up against quality opposition but he felt his side improved in the second half and is now looking at strengthening his squad in January as they look to climb the table.

"They are a good side, in fairness to Brushie he kept us in it to half time and we had a few strong words at the break and we got a reaction.

“I thought we did really well in the second half. Ryan Curran had a great chance and if that goes in it is 1-1 but I can't ask any more of them, we battled really hard,” he commented.