MALLARDS DO ENOUGH TO EDGE OUT ARDS
Ballinamallard United needed just one goal to narrowly defeat Ards at Clandeboye Park.
The Mallards created the best chances of a scoreless first half, with James McGrath coming closest a couple of minutes from the break only to head against the crossbar from close range after connecting with a cross from the left.
Ards crafted a couple of decent efforts early in the second half. Aidan Steele almost found the net with a header into the bottom left corner only for Jamie Ray to get his fingertips to the ball while, moments later, Patrick Cafolla tested the Mallards keeper from distance.
But what proved to be the only goal of the game came with ten minutes remaining when McGrath fired past keeper Alex Moore with a stunning drive from around 20 yards.
Ards: Moore, McCallum, Ruddy, Cafolla, Dougan, McAllister, Taggart, Gorman, Steele, Hunter, Tipton subs Greer, Shields, Miller, Scannell, Ritchie, Bayliss, Cousins
Ballinamallard United: Ray, McCann, Johnston, Holder, Arkinson, McIlwaine, Dunne, Byrne, Warrington, McGrath, Corrigan subs Groogan, Palmer, Moorehead, O’Grady, Boyle, Collen
Substitution 
Substitution 
