Ballinamallard coach Whitey Anderson wants to preserve the club’s top six position
Today is one of the biggest days in Ballinamallard United’s history.
Ballinamallard United manager Whitey Anderson says making the top six of the Premier League before the split is in their own hands.
“It’s all up to us now,” he says.
He adds that circumstances haven’t changed from last Saturday when the final league game before the split, against Linfield, was cancelled because of the re-arranged Northern Ireland World Cup clash against Russia.
“There is a real desire among the boys to be in the top six. But we have to go out and earn it. We can’t depend on Lisburn Distillery or Portadown,” he said.
“It’s up to our players to go out at Ferney Park and express themselves and try to get a result against Linfield.
“It’s not an easy fixture at any time. They are still a very capable side and while they may not have had a good season by their standards they are still third in the table.
“Our players were bitterly disappointed last Saturday because we had prepared well for the task ahead. But there is nothing you can do about things like the weather conditions. You just have to get on with it.
“Again we’ve been training hard in preparation for this week’s encounter,” said Anderson.
Anderson knows his side is almost in touching distance of the target they set themselves when they achieved security in the Premiership.
“We’ve been in the top six for most of the season. It would be a fantastic achievement for the players to play the last five games of the campaign in the top half of the table. They deserve it.”
Anderson says that some people say it has been a great season anyway and it doesn’t matter what happens on Saturday.
Well he and his players see it differently.
“I know the players are relishing it and they want it so badly. We want to push on to the best we can be at a particular time.
“These boys want more. They want to push on for the final five games of the season,” he said.
“That to me shows the hunger and the desire they have shown all season. They want to be successful and keep improving.”
Looking back on the season so far Anderson knows that everyone in the club at Ferney Park has worked so hard to achieve this – the committee, the backroom staff, the players, the whole club.
“There has been a serious level of commitment and interest throughout the season. There has been something happening every week. A lot of work has been done and there has been a lot of pressure on people.
He says that for the players it has been non stop.
“There hasn’t been a real break. It’s been relentless. At this level there is no rest and it has been a learning curve for everybody.
“Young players may have got tired as the season went on. That is to be expected. But people are finding their form at different times,” he said. “There is no doubt it has been a big learning curve.”
“It has been just fantastic to be involved in it. We’ve been involved in some fantastic matches and there have been some great displays by the team and individuals.”
He is adamant that he and the players want to finish on a high.
“Somebody is going to miss out by a small margin, either Portadown or ourselves and we don’t intend it to be us.
“We’re optimistic that we can do enough on Saturday. The players are hungry to succeed here. Linfield will be looking to cement third place and qualify for Europe. It will be a tough assignment, but it is not something we are afraid of. Both sides have players of quality and it should make for a really good game on Saturday.”
Linfield lost their last league and won’t want to lose two on the bounce. They will be hungry to respond. That’s what you would expect from them according to Anderson.
“We must look after ourselves. We have to leave everything on the pitch on Saturday and if the players do that then you can’t ask for anything more.”
“We haven’t been able to do in the last five or six weeks. When you look back there were very small margins in those games, but on Saturday it will be in our hands. It will be up to us.”