Ballinamallard Manager Whitey Anderson
This game has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Ballinamallard United focus on the Irish Cup this Saturday when they host Glenavon at Ferney Park.
It’s been a rough few weeks in the Danske Premier League and manager Whitey Anderson is glad of the change in focus on Saturday, particularly after Warrenpoint’s result at Glentoran last week which lifts them up two places and leaves the Ferney Park side second from bottom.
But it’s Glenavon on Saturday and Anderson and his charges are keen to get a good run. A win here would put them in the quarter finals of the competition.
“It’s a tough one, but we are delighted to have a home draw. They really have a squad in depth and are scoring a lot of goals. That is their big strength,” said Anderson.
“It’s an Irish Cup game and winner takes all. We’ll certainly be trying to get ourselves into the next round. A good cup run will do everybody good and the boys are lookiing forward to it. The pressure is off and hopefully we can perform.”
“There is no pressure to pick up points here. On our day we know we can beat anyone in this league. When we produce the good we are hard to handle, but on Saturday it is going to be on the day and we need to be at our best again,” said Anderson.
Games haven’t been too productive over the past few weeks for the Ballinamallard boys, but Anderson has a few more players back from injury for this cup tie, including winger Jason McCartney and utility man Steve Feeney.
“We know what we have to do and are determined to do it. We have settled on the way we are going in the league. We have players coming back and we can find positions for one or two on the bench. We’re going to be stronger going into the final part of the season and if we can stay injury free from now on then I think we can kick on,” said the Ballinamallard manager.
But he feels Saturday is important for morale. A cup win over Glenavon would do wonders for the side because they entertain Crusaders on Tuesday night in an important league game.
“The cup run is something we want to get, but we are confident too that we can still get back up the league.
“On Saturday though, it is winner takes all and we are sure we can get a result againt Glenavon.”
The only injury concerns now are with central defender Leon Carters who should have the results of his scan this week and midfielder James McKenna who looks to be out for the rest of the season.
The fact though that McCartney and Feeney are returning to the fold will give everyone at Ferney Park a real boost for Saturday’s cup tie and the league game against Crusaders.