Ballinamallard manager Gavin Dykes was pleased with the effort and endeavour of his side on Monday night when they took on champions Crusaders at Seaview in a game televised live on Sky Sports, however he admits that they were undone by the quality that Crusaders possess with Paul Heatley firing home two excellent goals as the home side came from behind to see off a battling and understrength Ballinamallard side.

“We set out to frustrate them and then maybe nick a goal at the other end and we did that with McGinty’s goal,” said Dykes.

“We came in at half time and we knew that the next 15 minutes was vitally important and we got through that but then you see Cushley and Forsythe coming on and they got the goal. The strike from Heatley then is top drawer, there was very little we could do about it, it was a great strike, and for the last we were just out on our feet. It was a great effort from the boys and we caused them trouble when we had the ball. You have to remember, it was a very young team, the average age on Monday night was 22 so the future’s bright but we got nothing out of it and we just have to go on and take the positives out of it and focus on Linfield,” he added.

It was a big night for youngster Ben McCann who made his starting debut in the defence and he came in for praise from manager Dykes.

“I thought young McCann was outstanding, for a young kid to come in and make his starting debut on live television and to be picking up Owens for most of the game, he did very well and although he has a lot to learn he has a bright future ahead of him.

“These young lads coming through and playing in a game like this on live television is a great reward for the coaches and the people at the academy at the club,” commented Dykes.

The Mallards went into the game missing a string of key, experienced players but Dykes is hopeful that the injury crisis is set to ease as they face into the business end of the season.

“McConnell came through 90 minutes and I thought he was excellent. Shane McCabe looks like he is going to be fit for the weekend so that’s another boost, Stuart Hutchinson will be hopefully back the week after the split, Josh McIlwaine is on his way back and McKenna will probably be back as well so they are big players coming back. Thankfully we have players coming back at the right time because it is going to be a tough run in,” he added.

Before the league splits for the final five games, the Mallards host second placed Linfield on Saturday and Dykes believes that his side are capable of getting a result if they can continue to execute the gameplan.

“I said to the players that if we bring that energy and stick to the plan that we have for games and execute that then we’ll have a very good run in to the end of the season.

“We’ll look forward to Saturday and another huge test. Linfield are a massive club so it will be difficult but at home I think we will give anybody a game and if we show the endeavour that we showed hopefully we can get a result,” he stated.

And then it will be five crunch games to decide the Mallards fate, four of which will be at Ferney Park. Ballinamallard will go into the split with a lead over second from bottom Carrick, who they meet on the final day, and Dykes is eager not to go into that game with everything at stake.

“We won’t rest on our laurels until we are safe, there are six games left and it could go to the wire. We play Carrick in the last game of the season and we want to be safe at that stage. We have a good group of players here and I believe we are good enough to do it but we have to go out and do it.”

There has also been a return to the Mallards colours for Gary Armstrong and Dykes feels the on loan player could play a big part in the run in now that he is fit and injury free.

“I know how talented he is but we didn’t see the best of him early in the season and now he has five or six games to go and make a statement. He seems a lot hungrier and he is keen to prove a point so he could be vital to us in the run in.”