Johnny Lafferty tried to find space down the right wing but is held up by Linfield’s Niall Quinn.
Friday night is as important as it gets for Ballinamallard United.
They travel to Warrenpoint to take on the basement side in a dogfight to see who can take maximum points and ease the pressure at the bottom of the Danske Premier League table.
For Whitey Anderson and his players it is the first of three games they have set their sights on. Three winnable games, this one away and two at home, Coleraing and Dungannon.
“We know we need to start picking up points and Friday night will be the most important game we have played this season,” he admitted.
“Despite our poor results the work ethic of the boys and the commitment hasn’t stopped. We must carry that forward to Friday night and Warrenpoint. We have players that can hurt the opposition, but we haven’t been consistent for long enough in games. We must make sure we instill that on Friday night right from the first whistle to the 93rd minute,” said Anderson.
He believes his players are confident that they can rise up the table in the course of the season and says these three games will be an important marker.
“They are working so hard in training. We’re doing our homework on Warrenpoint and hopefully we will be ready for the battle,” he said. “They are a good side and can play good football. They picked up a great point on Saturday and will be on a high after that, but it is up to us to boss this game and get the maximum we can out of it.”
Central defender Leon Carters looks likely to be out again for the game, as does midfielder David Kee with a calf strain.
Stuart Hutchinson, who struggled on Saturday should be passed fit after a knock on the hip.
“The players still keep believing in themselves. They are a good bunch to work with.
“They have confidence in themselves to get a result and to string something together to move up the table,” said Anderson. “I have no doubt about that at this stage.”
“Our minds must be right for the game. We have to be in the right frame of mind to take this by the scruff of the neck and make it ours.
The players will go out and give full commitment and I have no doubt we can get a result,” said the Ballinamallard manager.