MALLARDS CLOSE GAP ON TOP SPOT
Ballinamallard United closed the gap at the top of the Championship to three points with victory over Annagh United at the BMG Arena.
The sides went into the game occupying second and third in the table, but it was the Mallards that seized the advantage midway through the first half when the returning Simon Warrington opened the scoring.
The Mallards were reduced to ten men just nine minutes later when Richard Clarke was shown a straight red card for high feet, but Harry McConkey's side responded positively to double their advantage a few moments from the break when Warrington knocked home his second of the game.
Ruairi McDonald thought he had pulled one back for Annagh early in the second half but this was ruled out by the officials while, at the other end, Warrington had a great chance to bag his hat-trick only to fire over.
The home side eventually reduced the deficit with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining when Robbie Norton headed past Rory Brown at the back post.
However, Ballinamallard held off to claim the points in what could prove to be an important victory come the end of the season.
Annagh United: Hughes, McConville, Stewart, Acheson, Norton, McCullough, Palko, McDonald, McCormack, Upton, Moffatt subs Campbell (replaced McConville 87), Harpur (not used), Henderson (replaced McCullough 63), Duffin (replaced McCormack 59), Holmes (not used), Rogers (not used), Eagle (not used)
Ballinamallard United: Brown, Morris, McLaughlin, Curry, Clarke, Arkinson, Banda, McIlwaine, Kelly, Edgar, Warrington subs Ray (not used), McManus (not used), Campbell (not used), Warnock (replaced Banda 85), Morrow (replaced Arkinson 49), Byrne (replaced Warrington 74), Henderson (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
