Ballinamallard Youth made the short journey to Sion Mills to face Sion Swifts in their last league fixture of the current league format.

The Mallards had been in impressive form, chalking up three victories on the trot.

Conditions were far from ideal at Braefield and it was a real struggle for the Mallards to play their usual attractive passing football.

The away side made the better start as Darragh McGrath created the first opportunity as he broke forward but saw his shot go wide.

Slowly the home side began to get back into the tie and took the lead with ten minutes gone.

A corner was met by a Sion forward who nodded past Brownlee in the Mallards goal.

The young Mallards failed to react to going behind and they were punished once again. A break down the left hand side caught out the Mallards and Sion made it 2-0.

It was an infuriating half for the Mallards as Sion used any means possible to defend against the pacey Mallards attack. Time and time again, Holder and McGrath were taken out off the ball as the Mallards became frustrated with the stop start nature of the game and the negative tactics of the home side.

A few wise words were said by the coaching staff at half time and the away side made a number of tactical changes.

The away side dominated the second half. Sion failed to get out of their own half as the Mallards drove forward with Holder, Irvine and McGrath all performing superbly ably assisted by Houston Kinnear at right back.

The next goal was going to prove crucial and it was a stunning individual goal by the inform Michael Gallagher who got the Mallards back into the tie.

McGrath worked his way down the right hand side and crossed into box. Gallagher pounced on a Sion clearance and volleyed a stunning effort into the top corner of the net.

The away side pushed for that elusive equaliser and pushed for their second. Ryan Keaney somehow saw his effort scrambled off the line by the Sion net-minder.

The home side were getting increasingly frustrated by their inability to get the ball out of their own half. Toal and Smyth were dominant in the air and controlled the back four admirably.

The only time Sion troubled Brownlee in the Mallards goal was when Sion pounced on a poor clearance and the Mallard keeper pulled off a stunning save to keep it at 2-1.

Soon the home side found themselves down to ten men. A young Sion forward lashed out a Darragh McGrath and was immediately given his marching orders. Credit to skipper Smyth who immediately sorted out the situation and took control of his side and reminded them of the task in hand.

Soon the home side had two more in the referees notepad as Sion lost their discipline and focus.

In the end the home side were hanging on for dear life, as the referee blew the final whistle. The home side celebrated as if they had just won the league as the young Mallards trudged off the sodden pitch after a hard fought second half where they deserved at least a point if not all three.

Mallards man of the match was Houston Kinnear with strong showings from Smyth, Brownlee and Kennedy.

Last game of the current league format.
Kick off at 10.30am at Braefield in Sion Mills.
Meeting at club at 9am sharp. Any worries give me a shout.
Sam

Rampant Mallards run riot in Coleraine.

Ballinamallard Under 12s made the long trip to Coleraine University to face Bertie Peacocks Youth. The Mallards ran riot as they slammed an incredible twelve goals past the helpless Bertie Peacocks keeper.

The opening score came from another Jones corner. Toal flicked the ball on and Irvine headed home.

It was two nil moments later, Bradley and Browne worked the ball through to Michael Gallagher who tapped the ball into the net.

The third goal came via a mistake from the home side keeper. A poor kick out landed at the feet of Holder, who hammered the ball into the net from forty yards out.

The Mallards continued on the goal trail as Owens latched onto an Irvine through ball and confidently powered the ball in for number four.

Holder landed a fifth via a Browne cross.

It was top scorer Owens who added a sixth when he latched onto a through ball and finished superbly.

The Mallards went into the break, six goal up and made a number of changes at half time. However, the substitutes slotted in seamlessly and the Mallards continued to run riot.

Daire Bradley again set up another Mallards goal as he unselfishly passed the ball to Browne who slammed home the seventh.

Gallagher grabbed a second after some superb work out wide to make it eight.

The goal of the game came from a thunderous strike from Ryan Keaney. The winger created room for himself on the left and he thumped the ball into the top corner to make it nine.

It was soon into double figures as the Gallagher grabbed his hat trick in his first start of the season. Bradley once again worked space down the right and crossed for Gallagher who was left with the simplest of tasks to side foot into an empty goal.

Number eleven saw Bradley grab a deserved goal. Irvine powered through the home defence and played in Bradley who slotted home.

The final goal of the game came from Keaney who pounced on a mistake in the box and grabbed number twelve.

It was an impressive performance from the Mallards albeit against poor opposition. What was most pleasing was a clean sheet for the defence and debutant keeper Brownlee.

The Mallards face a local derby next weekend when they travel to face Sion Swifts.

After this first round of games the U12 will split into National League A & B divisions. The top 4 teams in the current groups plus the winner from the play off between the two 5th placed teams will form A and the remaining 9 teams group B. All points will carry forward.

There will be fixtures posted from 5th November for the new leagues. Teams will play each other once. The NL Cup will be an open draw between all 18 teams and draws will be made early November. These cup games will be fitted in around the league and NIBFA Cup matches.

In the event of a mild winter with few cancellations the current games programme may finish early. If necessary the league will offer a new competition to ensure the season extends  to an appropriate end date at this age group only.

At the moment training is on Astroturf from 6.30pm to 8pm.
However, if weather gets worse then it may be cancelled.
We are away to Bertie Peacock at Coleraine Uni and I will be needing assistance with cars travelling up to the game. Unfortunately, we lost money on the lats trip to Derry on the bus so cars will be much more economical. Myself and Dad will probably drive and can take 7 players out of the 16. However, once again unless match is moved to 3G I very much doubt that it will go ahead
SQUAD
Josh B, Josh T, Oisin, Houston, Callum, Jake I, Jake B, Ben, Ryan, Daire, Alex, Niall, Michael, Pearse, Jack K
If anyone can help give me a shout.
Sam

Ballinamallard Youth continued their recent good form with a gritty victory over Coleraine at the Bawnacre 3G.

It was a far from impressive performance in the first half but the young Mallards recovered well and played more to their ability in the second.

It was a gritty first half with neither side able to grab a hold of the tie. The first effort of the game came via a Coalter header from a Keaney corner, which was scrambled off the line.

Coleraine were always a threat on the break and they nearly took the lead when Smyth deflected an effort onto the post.

However, the home side finally took the lead from another superb Keaney corner. A Coleraine defender tried to clear the ball but could only divert the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 to the Mallards.

Manager Sam Gamble was far from impressed by what had been a poor first half from the Mallards. Despite a number of changes in the side, the home side were capable of performing much better.

The home side dominated the second half but only moments after the interval found themselves conceding a sloppy goal.

A Noble kick out reached a Coleraine midfielder around forty yards out and he thumped an effort over the head of the Mallards keeper to leave it 1-1.

This was the wake up call, which the Mallards needed desperately. The introduction of Gallagher and Owens upfront seemed to spark the Mallards into life.

The Mallards simply could not find a way past the Coleraine keeper who time and time again saved from Holder, Gallagher and Irvine. Irvine also smashed an effort off the upright as the Mallards pushed for that elusive second goal.

Finally the Mallards got themselves back in front. Irvine showed his predatory instincts to scramble the ball home from an inswinging corner.

Owens grabbed a third moments later when Holder played an exquisite through ball and Owens made no mistake as he side-footed home to make it 3-1.

The home side saved their best for last with only five minutes remaining. Holder made one of his trademark runs down the right and cut inside and unleashed a rocket to make it 4-1.

On reflection, it was certainly not one of the better performances from the Mallards this season. However, a number of players were brought into the starting eleven and the likes of Kinnear and Crawford were impressive.

Michael Gallagher was also impressive in the second half as he consistently got in behind the Coleraine defence and was unlucky not to grab himself a goal.

Next week the Mallards will hope to seal their top four finish with a victory over Bertie Peacock in Coleraine.

Apologies for the lack of correspondence this week. Managed to get myself a well deserved week off!
Huge well done to the 14 guys and Niall Jones and Paul Holder last weekend. Great performance and I would say they were a rowdy bunch on the way home!

Match against Coleraine at the Bawnacre on Saturday at 3pm. I have given a rest to some of the guys who have played a lot this season.
Great opportunity for all those playing on Saturday to make an impression
Cheers
Sam

Provisionally to be held at Fisher Park 7pm-8.15pm. However, heavy rain is forecats and may be moved to Bawnacre Astroturf.
Please keep an eye on here and your phone

Ballinamallard Under 12s unbeaten start to the season came to an end last Saturday against an impressive Dungannon Youth. The Mallards arguably played some of their best football but ended up on the end of a 4-2 defeat.

The opening stages of the tie were dominated by a tenacious Ballinamallard midfield. McNabb and Irvine were both strong in the tackle and were dominant in the centre of the field.

However, it was Dungannon who took the lead. A long-range effort was pumped into the box and Noble failed to keep it out.

The Mallards responded superbly. Niall Owens wreaked havoc down the Mallards left and he was rewarded with a well taken finish.

The home side failed to settle after the goal and Dungannon broke down the right and slid the ball past the helpless Noble.

2-1 at half time.

Some encouraging words from coaches Gamble and Keys had the Mallards fired up for the second half.

Despite dominating the early stages of the second half, the away side once again struck on the counter attack. As the Mallards pushed numbers forward, they left themselves exposed at the back once again and Dungannon took a two goal lead.

However, this is a young side made of some stern stuff and the home side grabbed a deserved second goal. Once again, man of the match Owens tormented the Dungannon back four and powered home.

Game on! The home side bombarded the away goal with ten minutes remaining. Toal had a header cleared off the line. Browne somehow headed over when it seemed easier to score and Irvine had several attempts charged down.

As the Mallards used all of their substitutions they were caught once again on the counter attack. Dungannon attacked with precision and added their fourth.

Final score 4-2.

A disappointing result for the home side who arguably deserved at least a point from the game.

However, the Mallards have got to stop conceding soft goals on the break if they are to stay in the top four.

Top performers on the day for the Mallards were star performer Owens, Callum Jones, Holder and Jake Irvine.