MALLARDS CLOSE GAP AT TOP TO THREE POINTS
Ballinamallard United closed the gap at the top of the table to three points with victory over leaders Portadown at Ferney Park.
Sean McEvoy opened the scoring for the Mallards with just over half-an-hour on the clock with a curling effort into the top corner beyond the reach of keeper Bobby Edwards following some good work down the right.
It was 2-0 a couple of minutes before the interval when Richard Clarke scored from the spot despite Edwards getting a hand to the ball but, right on the stroke of half-time, Paul Finnegan pulled a goal back for the visitors when he rose highest to send a glancing header into the bottom right from George Tipton's corner.
Then, on 65 minutes, Portadown levelled through Aaron Duke's nodded finish from another Tipton delivery.
However, just moments later, the Mallards regained the advantage through Chris Kelly who got to the ball ahead of Edwards to touch it over the line.
And, to cap a frantic few minutes, Ryan Campbell grabbed Ballinamallard's fourth not long after that after getting behind the Portadown defence to fire into the top corner.
Ballinamallard United: Connolly, McEvoy, McCann, Taheny, Smyth, Clarke, Campbell, McCartney, Kelly, Edgar, O'Reilly subs McManus (replaced Kelly 86), McIlwaine (replaced McEvoy 78), Warrington (not used), Cashel (replaced McCartney 66), Holder (not used)
Portadown: Edwards, Crane, Finnegan, Salley, Duke, McGrandles, Tipton, Wilson, McNally, Teggart, Bonis subs Lavery (replaced Duke 74), McKenna (not used), Millar (not used), Carmichael (replaced Tipton 74), Ferris (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
