James McKenna capped his first league start since August with a goal, but it was little consolation for the midfielder as they lost out to title challenging Cliftonville.

“It was a disappointed changing room after the game,” admitted McKenna. “In the second half they got on top of us, and when a team like that gets on top of you it is difficult. I would be a big believer that goals change games and if we had put the penalty away in the first half then it could have been a completely different game. We didn’t take our chances in the first half when we played well, and in the second half they came out and dominated for a good period. I still thought we were a threat on the counter attack and just after we went 1-0 down Liam Martin was only inches away from equalising and that might have shifted the momentum.”

The team’s third straight league loss followed on from a penalty shoot out defeat at Ards in midweek, and James admits the fixtures schedule may have counted against them. “I didn’t play Wednesday night but it is a massive shift for the boys to play extra time on a 3G surface and then come back to Belfast on a Saturday and play on a 3G surface again against a very good side,” he said. “I would certainly say people tired. We had players not getting home until 2 o’clock on Wednesday night and then you have to get back on the bus 48 hours later and come back up and there is no doubt it takes it out of you. I think everyone gave everything they could but we just came up a little short. We had a good run and we are now on a wee run of three league defeats and we just can’t seem to break it, but everyone is trying hard.”

McKenna was a vital player in the centre of midfield as the Mallards worked hard to contain Cliftonville in the first half, and he is hoping that his performance will help him cement a place in the starting eleven after a frustrating campaign to date. “I started the first six or seven games and then I got sent off against Coleraine and that sort of destroyed my season,” he admitted. “I got a three game suspension and then I picked an injury in the cartilage in my knee and missed another four weeks. The team was on a good run when I came back so I haven’t been getting into the side which you have to accept because there is big competition in there. You have the likes of Adam Lecky who was the player of the month for October and Johnny Lafferty has moved in there and has been playing great football. Everyone knows how good a player Shane McCabe is as well, and you have other boys wanting to play in there so all you can do is keep pushing in training and the manager will make his decision.”