Stewart opened the scoring after 13 minutes, converting from close range after Matty Wilson headed Adam McCreery’s free-kick back across goal.

The Mallards doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when Armstrong finished through the goalkeeper’s legs after Eoin McAnulla’s initial effort had been saved.

Manager Ally Irwin was pleased to see his side’s recent performances rewarded with three points and a clean sheet, although he believes there is still room for improvement in front of goal.

“There are still more chances out there that we are not taking, and if we can start taking those chances we will put up some really impressive scorelines, but you have to take the positives,” he said.

“I have felt for a number of weeks we have been putting in good performances but we haven’t been getting the points to reflect that.

That has been through a mixture of not taking chances and maybe not keeping clean sheets.

The level of performance was very good, and we scored two well-worked goals and kept a clean sheet at the other end.”

Ballinamallard had opportunities to extend their lead before the interval, with McCreery twice testing the Dergview goalkeeper and Armstrong denied by an excellent save from a header.

Dergview began the second half brightly, with Dylan Russell played through before Wilson made a last-ditch tackle and Adam Armstrong blocked the follow-up effort.

McAnulla came close to adding a third when his effort clipped the inside of the post, but the visitors were unable to test the home goalkeeper consistently as the half progressed.

The Mallards finished strongly, with Adam Cathcart firing narrowly wide and Justin McBride striking the outside of the post.

Boyle then rattled the crossbar from 25 yards before Cathcart missed the target again in the closing stages.

Irwin’s side now face another difficult away assignment against Augher Stars this Saturday, as they continue a demanding run of fixtures on the road.

“We have played 10 competitive matches and only 20 per cent of them have been at home,” Irwin said.

“We have played two home league games and the rest have been away.

We have played two cup games, and they have both been away as well.

It has been a tough run for the players but if we can come through this rough patch of away game after away game and still be in touch with where we want to be in the table, then when the home games swing round we will be very much looking forward to it.”