Comrades came from two goals down to advance past Ballinamallard to the next round of the League Cup after a thrilling encounter at Dixon Park.

The game started in lively fashion with an early chance for each side. On 5 minutes Mallards split the home defence with a ball which set McAleer free on the right side of the box, but he skewed his effort high and wide. Then, a minute later, a dangerous Joe Tully cross into the box saw the ball break off a defender to Calvin McCurry who forced a good save from ‘keeper Ray with a header from 6 yards.

In the 17^th minute Caomhán McGuinness received the ball on the right and advanced to hit a fierce shot from 22 yards which Ray had to parry out.

The Mallards ‘keeper was again forced into action on 27 minutes when a dipping free kick effort from Joe Tully forced him to make a good save to tip the ball over the bar.

Seconds later the visitors grabbed the lead when a counter-attacked ended with Declan Breen having to make a good save from a McAleer effort from inside the box, but Reece Byrne was first to the loose ball, slotting home from 6 yards.

With Comrades reeling from going behind, Mallards doubled their lead in the 33^rd minute when they beat the offside trap and Edgar ran free to finish confidently past Breen.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 37 minutes when a Mallards player blocked a Liam Hassin effort with an outstretched arm inside the box and a penalty was awarded which Darius Roohi confidently dispatched.

The visitors almost restored their two-goal advantage with the last action of the first half, two minutes into injury-time, when a corner found the head of Stafford, whose downward effort was cleared off the line by Ian Fletcher.

Comrades started the second half on the front foot. In the 50^th minute another Joe Tully free kick, this time from 30 yards, tested the ‘keeper who could not hold onto it, but no Comrades player could get to the loose ball.

Three minutes later Caomhán McGuinness cut inside and shot from the edge of the box, His effort took a deflection off a defender, which forced Ray to make a fine save just inside the post.

McGuinness had another effort in the 64^th minute when he again cut inside from the right to send in a shot from 16 yards which went wide of the target.

The hosts had a great chance to level the scores on 71 minutes when they were awarded another penalty after a great move down the left ended with a ball into the box being blocked by another outstretched Mallards arm. Recently introduced substitute Cathal Farren stepped up to take the penalty but his effort placed just inside the post was kept out by a superb save from Ray.

Incredibly, five minutes later, Comrades were awarded their third penalty of the night when Calvin McCurry was chopped down in the box. This time Gary Donnelly took the responsibility to shoot from the spot and he made no mistake to equalise for his team.

The hosts continued to press forward and on 80 minutes they came close to taking the lead. Gary Donnelly played in Joe Tully to shoot from 16 yards, but his effort met by another good save by Ray. The ball then broke back to Tully who shot again, this time hitting the angle of bar and post.

Comrades had been on top during the second half, but the visitors still posed a threat. On 89 minute a great delivery from a free kick saw the ball come off the head of Cónall McGrandles, who was prevented from scoring an own goal by a great save from Declan Breen.

On 90 minutes Mallards were screaming for a penalty when the ball struck Owen McConville’s arm in the box, but it was by his side in a natural position and the referee turned away the appeals.

The game moved to extra-time and on 101 minutes the guile of Gary Donnelly unlocked the visitors’ defence to find Conall Curran who finished confidently from 15 yards to put Comrades ahead for the first time in the game.

In the 104^th minute Mallards came close to getting back on level terms when Morris glanced a header narrowly wide from a corner.

Two minutes later, Calvin McCurry was played in for a chance by Liam Hassin, but he shot wide of the far post from 16 yards.

Two minutes into the second half of extra-time McCurry had another chance when after a great move involving Conall Curran, Gary Donnelly played the striker in, but he slipped as he shot, and the ball went over the bar from 12 yards.

As the clocked ticked down Mallards piled on pressure to try to get an equaliser. In the 110^th minute McGinty shot just wide from the edge of the box.

In the dying moments of the game the visitors were caught out pressing forward when ‘keeper Ray was robbed of the ball just inside the Mallards half by Liam Hassin who ran forward to slot home into the empty net and seal victory for Comrades.