Ballinamallard manager Whitey Anderson believes his sides next five matches are the most important games his side has played since they secured promotion to the Premier League.
With the club precariously placed just one place and one point off the foot of the table, the Mallards need to finish the season strongly to ensure their survival in the top flight, and the manager and players are in no doubt about the importance of getting points on the board, starting with Saturday’s trip to Portadown.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the most important run of matches since we got promoted,” said Whitey. 
“Everybody knows the importance of the next five matches. 
"There are a lot of people within Ballinamallard Football Club who have worked extremely hard to get the club to where it is today, and we know the responsibility that is on myself, the backroom team and the players to the people associated with the club. 
"We owe it to the chairman, the committee, the youth section and the wider community. 
"To get Premier League football down in this part of the world has raised the profile of the local game and it’s important that we keep that going and remain in the Premier League.”
With the league now split into two halves, Ballinamallard face the five teams around them in their closing games, starting with a trip to Shamrock Park to face Portadown. 
Portadown are on a run of seven league games without a win, the longest current winless streak in the division, but despite their recent woes Whitey is expecting a tough game.
 “Portadown may have been on a bad run but if you look at the team on paper they should probably be in the top six,” he said. 
“They might not have had many results recently but I watched them against Warrenpoint and I thought they should have been out of sight by half time. 
"We beat them 1-0 in February and it was a very close game. 
"I’m sure it will be another close one on Saturday.”
The players were using the facilities at the Manor House Hotel this week to give them a break from their regular training routine as the manager looks to keep his squad fresh for the run in, and he reckons the positives signs in recent weeks bode well for the closing matches.
“There is certainly a real positivity in the changing rooms,” he revealed. 
“The senior players are helping the younger players and there has been a lot of good work going on behind the scenes. 
"The last three games we have lost by slim margins and we played exceptionally well. 
"If we can produce the same intensity and same commitment then I know we have the players on the pitch that can get results and keep Ballinamallard in the Premier League.”
Anderson will have to do without the services of James McKenna who is suspended for the game against Portadown on Saturday while experienced goalkeeper Alvin Rouse likely to be out of contention for another week with his foot injury.
However, striker Stephen O’Flynn is set to return to the Ballinamallard line up as they look to move to within a point of their opponents with a victory.