Ballinamallard 0-1 Crusaders

Football can be a very cruel game sometime, and no more so than Tuesday evening's defeat to reigning champions Crusaders.

The Mallards looked to have secured a point but with 5 seconds left on the clock, captain Colin Coates headed in a winner much to the Belfast side's jubilation and the Fermanagh side's despair.

Despite having to deal with some hefty Crusaders pressure and sustained aerial bombardment, the Mallards did have chances of their own in the game but couldn't find a vital breakthrough.

In the first half, Jordan Forsyth clipped the post for Crusaders whilst Paul Heatley screwed wide when well placed and Ryan Morris cleared off the Mallards goal line. The best chance for the Crues fell to Diarmuid O'Carroll but goalkeeper Stefan McCusker pulled off a terrific save to deny the striker.

At the other end of the pitch Johnny Lafferty was denied with a last ditch tackle as the home side held their defence until half time.

Crusaders again had chances in the second half with Owens heading over when well placed whilst Heatley seemed to have given his side the lead only for the ball to bounce off the post and across goal before being hoofed clear.

The Mallards best chance fell to Ivan Sproule who found himself through on goal but having hesitated, it allowed BJ Burns to get back and put the frontman off.

Adam Lecky also sent close for the Mallards when he twisted and turned in the penalty area but Sean O'Neill saved with his feet.

James McKenna also saved with his feet to keep the game scoreless, when he cleared an O'Carroll shot off the line and just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Crusaders scored a vital winner to keep their title dreams alive.