Captain Mark Stafford replied for Ballinamallard from a corner
Ballinamallard United 1
Crusaders 2
Despite having plenty of possession and chances Ballinamallard United narrowly lost to Crusaders 2-1 at Ferney Park last night.
The difference was the finish with the Belfast side netting their first on 35 minutes when Timmy Adamson pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area to shoot low into the bottom corner.
Less than ten minutes into the second half the doubled their lead when Gary McCutcheon latched onto a tap down to shoot across goal and into the far corner past keeper Alvin Rouse with the home defence appealing for off side.
But it was the Ferney Park side who had most of the play over the 90 minutes.
Crusaders keeper Sean O’Neill kept his side in the game early on with good saves from Liam Martin and Ryan Campbell.
It was poor defending that allowed Timmy Adamson the space to find his shot for goal on 35 miinutes with Craig McClean heading just over from a corner minutes later.
Minutes before the break the home side almost levelled when Currie, Courtney and Martin combined for Martin to hit the target, but keeper O’Neill did well to push the effort away.
Ballinamallard were caught cold in the second half when McCutcheon made it two, but from then on it was the Ferney Park side pushing for a score with the Crues relying on the break.
As the half wore on Ballinamallard looked more lively and pulled a goal back when the ball was bundled over the line by Stafford from the corner.
Stafford almost levelled when he latched onto a good ball by David Kee but his effort was just over the crossbar.
In the final minutes O’Neill pulled off a great save after Courtney’s great run and shot at the near post.
Ballinamallard’s Whitey Anderson felt his side dominated the majority of the game.
“Our keeper had two shots and they scored goals late in the first half and early in the second. Rouse had one more save to make. In the second half it was all us. We gave a goal away to them early in the second half and we were in their half for most of the second half. But at the end of the day we have nothing to show for it.
“Thought the goal gave them momentum at th starty We probably should h ave done better in front of goal. We got a goal back and were very unleky not to equalise in the closing minutes.
Thought some of the footbballl we played and a lot of positives to take from it. Must knuckle down and keep working hard now. Keep aply ing ourselves.
McCartney changed things when he came on and Johnny Courtney showed a few good things and their keeper made a good save with his feet in the closing minutes.”
Ballinamallard
Rouse, N. Beacom, Stafford, Feeney, Keohane, Currie (McManus), Kee, C. Beacom (McCartney), Courtney, Martin (Crawford), Campbell
Subs
Murphy, McManus, McCartney, Crawford, McMenamin
Crusaders
O’Neill, King, McClean, Robinson, Magowan, Clarke, Watsoon, Hanely (McAllister), Adamson (McAllister), Owens, McCutcheon (Snoddy)
Subs E.McAllister, D. McAllister, McMaster, Snoddy, Dempster
Referee
Andrew Davy