INTENSITY… Whitey Anderson
Ballinamallard manager Whitey Anderson is hoping his side’s showings in the Irish Cup can be transferred to Ferney Park on Saturday when they host Crusaders.
Both teams have plenty to play for. Ballinamallard are struggling to gain points near the bottom of the table and Crusaders are pushing for a top three place and European football next season.
But Ballinamallard won the opening game of the season against the Crues and are hoping they can repeat that this Saturday.
“The players believe in what we are doing and they are working extremely hard to achieve it. A lot of results have gone against us lately, but I’m hoping we can start well and score the first goal on Saturday and go on to get a result.
“I think the players have enough in the locker to to finish the season well. We have three months of hard graft and good performances to put in.
“They certainly have the belief that they will get the points and push on up the table.”
Anderson says though that the most important thing is to concentrate on their performances, do their jobs well and move on from there.
There have been a number of positive aspects in recent weeks too – the first half against Glenavon and the replay against Strabane Athletic.
“The players brought real intensity into those games and they really showed what they have in them.
“You are not going to see teams dominating for 90 minutes in these games, but when we are in a good position then we must take our chances.”
New signing Craig Hill remains in the squad for Saturday’s game while another new boy Liam McMenamin also joins the squad.
Jason McCartney and Steve Feeney both returned to training, but are unlikely to feature in the Crusaders game, but the are high hopes that the lively Liam Martin will return to the squad.