Marc Walsh’s second goal of the season lifted Ballinamallard United into fourth place in the NIFL Championship as they bounced back from their midweek cup disappointment with a hard-fought victory over Strabane Athletic at the Limavady Showgrounds on Friday night.

The Mallards were playing their third game in seven days following their penalty shoot-out exit against Queens University, but showed resilience to secure all three points against a Strabane side managed by former Ferney Park boss Tommy Canning.

Canning formed a management team with his assistant Mark Stafford at Ballinamallard for the 2023/24 season, but it was Stafford’s side who had the better of this encounter.

Stafford made five changes from the midweek home cup fixture, with goalkeeper Kyle Gabbidon returning between the posts.

Dean Corrigan and Nathan Sherry were reunited at the heart of the defence, while captain Aaron Arkinson and Ryan Mayse also returned to the starting line-up.

Strabane made the brighter start and Gabbidon was quickly called into action, tipping a long-range effort over the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, Garth Falconer’s back post header beat Gabbidon but Arkinson cleared off the goal-line to keep the visitors on level terms.

Gabbidon was called upon again to make another save as the home side pressed, before Ballinamallard began to threaten at the other end.

Danny Barker came close with a header that drifted just wide, while Arkinson, operating in the more unfamiliar role of central midfielder, fired over the bar after Barker’s blocked shot had fallen into his path.

Walsh was the next to come close.

Mayse picked up possession 40 yards from goal and slid a ball through the defence for Darragh Byrne.

The right back appeared to get to the ball ahead of the keeper before they collided, but the Mallards' penalty appeals were waved away and Walsh dragged the loose ball wide of the far post.

Callum Moorehead replaced Darragh Byrne at half time and blasted over the bar soon after the restart, but ten minutes into the second half the Mallards made the decisive breakthrough.

Ryan Mayse was fouled on the left and his quickly taken free kick caught the Strabane defence napping as he found Walsh in space.

The winger advanced on goal before firing across the keeper into the far corner of the net.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage two minutes later when Walsh found left-back Jamie Johnston on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was saved by Strabane goalkeeper Thomas McDermott.

Walsh was then played through on goal on 65 minutes and appeared poised to shoot when he was challenged from behind, but the referee waved away the Mallards’ penalty appeals.

Strabane searched for an equaliser and had a promising opportunity, but their attacker pulled the effort wide of the post.

The home side came agonisingly close to salvaging a point in stoppage time when Cormac Burke’s shot from 20 yards was deflected onto the post in the 91st minute.

Ballinamallard, however, still threatened to add a second before the final whistle, with Tommy Connolly spurning an opportunity to seal the win.

Walsh’s decisive finish ultimately proved enough to secure a valuable three points for the Mallards, who recorded their sixth win from 13 league games.