Ballinamallard United manager Whitey Anderson has admitted defeat in his attempts to sign a right winger before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The Mallards have introduced Anthony Elding, Johnny Lafferty, Jake Dykes and Raymond Foy to the first team since the end of last season but the boss had been hoping the addition of a right side midfielder would provide the final piece of the jigsaw. With only days remaining in the window however he acknowledges that is now unlikely to happen.

“At the minute I can’t see us getting anyone else in, but I am happy with the squad I have,” said Whitey. “To be honest I would have liked to get a right sided midfielder but I just can’t seem to get one. If I was to get one player in that is the one position I would take. It’s ironic that this week we are playing Cliftonville and Chris Curran will be playing for them. He was a player we were never able to replace.” Saturday’s Ferney Park encounter with Curran’s Cliftonville side will provide the Mallards with their toughest test of the season to date. The reigning champions have yet to taste defeat this season and Whitey still believes they will retain their title despite the loss of striker Liam Boyce, who scored for Ross County this week.

“To me they have the best squad of players in the league and they would be my favourites for the title again,” he said. “We have had some good games against them and maybe if we play well and they are a bit below par then we have a chance. We have good players in our team and nobody has been able to turn us over. They are gelling together well, they are fit and they will give it their best shot.” Ballinamallard will go onto the match against the champions on the back of a positive week.

Saturday saw the Mallards bogey side Glentoran visit Ferney Park, and although they were unable to defeat the Belfast side, Whitey reckoned Stafford’s last gasp equaliser was well deserved. “We showed great character, but as far as I was concerned over the 90 minutes I think we deserved the point,” said the manager. “Being one down before the last kick of the game you are obviously glad to get the point but I think it would have been a big injustice on my players after the effort they put in from start to finish if they didn’t get something from the game.” The Mallards then made the long midweek trip to Ballymoney, where they ran out comfortable victors in the League Cup. “It was a very professional performance,” said Whitey. “It was an unfortunate draw for us in terms of the travelling but it was pleasing performance, especially the second half. We played the ball a lot quicker than we did in the first half, we scored five goals and kept a clean sheet, and got good game time for a number of players.” Anthony Elding, the club’s big summer signing, has now scored three times in two games and fellow new boy Johnny Lafferty has also been among the goals, and Whitey reckons as the season progresses his new signings and the rest of the squad will only get better.

“Anthony just needs a run of games and I believe that applies for the squad overall,” he said. “I think it might take us a few more weeks to progress but I think if this squad stays free of injuries we can progress well during the season.”