Ballinamallard defender Emmet Friars is hopeful that they will return to winning ways sooner rather than later.

The Mallards had enjoyed a great October that saw manager Whitey Anderson earn the Manager of the Month award but since then they have suffered back to back defeats to Glenavon and Ballymena. The loss to Ballymena saw the Braidsmen leapfrog Ballinamallard into eighth spot and Friars is eager to end the run and get back among the points in the league.

“At the minute we're not looking below us although you always have one eye on it. We had a good October but it's gone now and if we have a bad November then you are looking over your shoulder. It is important that we get a result as quick as we can in the league,” he commented.

The Mallards face a tough test this Saturday when they travel to Solitude to take on title challenging Cliftonville but Friars points out that the Mallards have performed well against the bigger teams this season.

“It's a big ask, especially going to Solitude, as they are a top side and they are proving it but at the end of the day we've beaten the top sides in the league this year and we've taken points on the road more so than at home so we'll go there with no fear. As I've said we need to get ourselves back on the right path again,” he added.

When Mark Stafford left Ferney Park at the end of last season, Anderson needed a strong replacement and he looks to have found the ideal man in the former Crusaders player who has been an impressive figure in the heart of the Fermanagh outfit's defence. And for his part, Friars is loving life at Ferney Park.

“I'm loving it down here. You couldn't ask for a better club and a better set up. The staff are great and it is a great bunch of lads too. I'm really enjoying it and hopefully we can get a few more results and I'll be enjoying it a wee bit more.”

Friars produced another impressive display in the centre of the Ballinamallard defence on Saturday but it was not enough to stop the Mallards slipping to defeat with the defender believing that one goal was always going to be decisive on a wet day at Ferney Park.

“It was always going to be a game that was going to be decided by one goal. It was a fairly open game at times and the conditions dictated that it was going to be like that but at the end of the day it was not good enough from us,” he said.

And he feels that they still lack a bit of belief at times.

“I think even when they scored and we went 1-0 down we have got to believe that we can get back into the game. I just think sometimes that we lack a wee bit of belief but we have just got to pick ourselves up,” he stated.

The Mallards were not helped on the day by an injury to goalkeeper Stefan McCusker although he managed to see it through to the end of the game with the team offering him good protection. In doing that though Ballinamallard invited more pressure from the visitors.

“You know that you can't get high up the pitch in your starting position and it invites them to press you high up the pitch. Every time it goes in behind you know that you've just got to clear it out and that invites pressure on you at times too. Fair play to Stefan though, he picked up an injury in the first few minutes but he dug in and get through the game and did well. There was nothing he could do with the penalty and outside of that there wasn't many chances in the game.”

Ballinamallard and Ballymena have swapped positions a couple of times in recent weeks and Friars feels that the battle between the two will continue throughout the season.

“Ballymena are a good side with good players and they came here and they set up well. I think it is going to be nip and tuck between us and them for that position in the league and we have just got to hang in there and pick up points when we can” said Friars.