CAMPBELL GOAL EARNS MALLARDS FIRST WIN
A Ryan Campbell goal late in the first half was enough to secure a first win of the season for Ballinamallard United over Portadown at Shamrock Park.
The sides swapped chances during the opening quarter-of-an-hour with Sean McEvoy going close for the Mallards while Chris Lavery responded for the Ports at the other end.
The game was then suspended for around eight minutes due to a torrential downpour, and on the resumption of the action Campbell and Nathan Cashel produced saves from Ports keeper Robert Edwards while Adam Salley sent a looping header just wide for Portadown.
McEvoy was then denied by a diving save from Edwards, to be followed later in the half when Aaron Duke tested the Mallards defence with a header over.
This pattern continued before Campbell eventually found a way through to hand the Mallards the lead with a superb header over the outstretched Edwards from Aaron Arkinson's delivery from the right.
Portadown did have the ball in the net on 66 minutes but Lavery's effort was ruled out following a push in the build up while, a couple of minutes later, Paul Finnegan turned the ball onto the top of the crossbar.
The Mallards could have extended their advantage late on with Edwards and then Paddy McNally blocking goalbound efforts.
Portadown: Edwards, Hall, Crane, Finnegan, Bradley, Lavery, Salley, Duke, Wilson, McNally, Teggart subs McCallum (not used), McKenna (replaced Wilson 61), Glackin (replaced Duke 61), Tipton (not used), Ferris (replaced Lavery 83)
Ballinamallard United: Connolly, McEvoy, McCann, Smyth, Clarke, Arkinson, Campbell, Kelly, Cashel, O'Reilly, Morris subs Taheny (replaced McEvoy 78), McManus (replaced Clarke 4), McIlwaine (replaced Cashel 68), McCartney (not used), Currie (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
