Ballinamallard Manager, Whitey Anderson
By Sam Lindsay
The post-split fixtures for the decisive stages of the Danske Bank Premiership have been announced. And they’ve given Whitey Anderson and his Ballinamallard team a real mountain to climb.
Four of their five final games in the relegation dogfight are slated as away fixtures.
The Mallards have been drawn away to Portadown, Dungannon Swifts, Ballymena Utd and Carrick Rangers.
Their only home game of the end of season run in is against bottom of the league Warrenpoint Town.
Ballinamallard’s away form doesn’t hold out much hope with the Ferney Park men averaging only one win in every five away games. They’ve also struggled for goals, finishing scoreless every one game in three this season.
Relegation rivals Carrick Rangers further added to Whitey Anderson’s woes last night by pulling out a smash and grab win against title chasers Crusaders.
That shock result left them second bottom, with only Warrenpoint Town below them.
Carrick came out on top in a seven goal thriller at Taylors Avenue which saw them 3-0 up at half time.
Despite conceding two goals in the 56th and 77th minute, a Ben Roy goal two minutes from time put Carrick in the driving seat once again at 4-2. Crusaders hit the net three minutes into added time, but it was too little too late.
A 90th minute free for all which featured three red cards including one for Carrick manager Gary Haveron added to the excitement.
That result leapfrogged Carrick above Ballinamallard in the league standings. The Ducks now face Linfield and Crusaders before the split.
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