Ballinamallard Under 12s made the long trek to Ballymena to face Carniny Youth in the group stages of the League Cup.
The Mallards were without several of their panel but this gave others the chance to shine and impress ahead of next weekends NIBFA Cup tie with Culmore.
The game was played on an immaculate playing field at Ballykeel FC and the surface suited the away side.
It was the away side that started the strongest, as the midfield trio of Holder, Slevin and Irvine controlled the centre of the park, allowing McGrath and Owens to wreak havoc down the flanks.
The Mallards should have opened the scores after a scintillating counter attack. Brownlee confidently claimed the ball and kicked out to Owens on the edge of the box.
Owens and Holder combined in the middle of the field and Owens skipped through towards goal.
Unfortunately, the left winger put his ferocious effort just over the bar.
It was only a matter of time until the Mallards opened the scores. Kennedy cleverly threw the ball inside to Slevin.
Slevin played a superb pass through to Owens who rocketed the ball into the top corner.
Despite going ahead the away side became lazy and complacent. Carninny began to find some rhythm and got back into the tie. Only for the interventions of Smyth, Crawford, McNabb and Kennedy in defence prevented the home side from equalizing.
Just before the half time interval, the home side were provided a life-line. A long throw into the box was comfortably dealt with by right back McNabb. Much to the amazement of both sides, the referee awarded a penalty to the home side.
The Carniny skipper stepped up to slot home but Brownlee got down well to make a tremendous save.
The Mallards regrouped at the half time break and took on board the wise words of their coaches.
In the early stages of the second half, Niall Owens was wreaking havoc with his determined runs and Browne was having one of his best games of the season in the centre forward role.
Ross Slevin had a great chance to double the lead when he saw his header go narrowly wide after a superb corner from Owens.
It took until the 58th minute for the Blues to grab a crucial second goal. Niall Owens ran at the Carniny rear-guard and played the ball to Curtis Coalter. Coalter played a great one two with Ryan Keaney and cut inside and rifled a superb effort into the bottom corner.
It was a much improved performance from the Mallards who showed great grit and determination to come away with three points.
Man of the match was Ross Slevin. The Dromore youngster was calm in possession and he has added an extra dimension to the side.
The Mallards were without several of their panel but this gave others the chance to shine and impress ahead of next weekends NIBFA Cup tie with Culmore.
The game was played on an immaculate playing field at Ballykeel FC and the surface suited the away side.
It was the away side that started the strongest, as the midfield trio of Holder, Slevin and Irvine controlled the centre of the park, allowing McGrath and Owens to wreak havoc down the flanks.
The Mallards should have opened the scores after a scintillating counter attack. Brownlee confidently claimed the ball and kicked out to Owens on the edge of the box.
Owens and Holder combined in the middle of the field and Owens skipped through towards goal.
Unfortunately, the left winger put his ferocious effort just over the bar.
It was only a matter of time until the Mallards opened the scores. Kennedy cleverly threw the ball inside to Slevin.
Slevin played a superb pass through to Owens who rocketed the ball into the top corner.
Despite going ahead the away side became lazy and complacent. Carninny began to find some rhythm and got back into the tie. Only for the interventions of Smyth, Crawford, McNabb and Kennedy in defence prevented the home side from equalizing.
Just before the half time interval, the home side were provided a life-line. A long throw into the box was comfortably dealt with by right back McNabb. Much to the amazement of both sides, the referee awarded a penalty to the home side.
The Carniny skipper stepped up to slot home but Brownlee got down well to make a tremendous save.
The Mallards regrouped at the half time break and took on board the wise words of their coaches.
In the early stages of the second half, Niall Owens was wreaking havoc with his determined runs and Browne was having one of his best games of the season in the centre forward role.
Ross Slevin had a great chance to double the lead when he saw his header go narrowly wide after a superb corner from Owens.
It took until the 58th minute for the Blues to grab a crucial second goal. Niall Owens ran at the Carniny rear-guard and played the ball to Curtis Coalter. Coalter played a great one two with Ryan Keaney and cut inside and rifled a superb effort into the bottom corner.
It was a much improved performance from the Mallards who showed great grit and determination to come away with three points.
Man of the match was Ross Slevin. The Dromore youngster was calm in possession and he has added an extra dimension to the side.
RSS Feed