Ballinamallard United manager Gavin Dykes felt his side could have taken something from last Saturday’s trip to Ballymena where they were narrowly beaten 2-1 at the Showgrounds, and he is hoping that they will now go on and get a result this week when they take on Glentoran at the Oval.
Ballymena had taken the lead just before half time through a Tony Kane penalty while they also had a couple of other chances which they failed to convert.
A Cathair Friel effort before the hour mark saw them double their lead but Ballinamallard rallied and Gary Armstrong pulled a goal back although the home side held on to claim the points.
“I thought we could have got something out of it, especially in the last 15 or 20 minutes. Ballymena missed a few chances but we stayed in the game and once we scored I thought we would go on and get something out of it. 
“It’s disappointing that we finished up empty handed but we have a few positives to take out it. I thought that Niall Owens and Gary Armstrong were very good when they came on,” said Dykes.
The Mallards boss is hopeful of a bigger contribution from Armstrong and has thrown down the challenge to him to produce his best on a consistent basis.
“The task for Gary now is to try and do it every week. I know how good a talent he is but he hasn’t done it enough for us. 
“The other day he was really good which was pleasing but the challenge for him no is to do it for 90 minutes and not 15 minutes,” he added.
With Ryan Curran making a return to action from the bench on Saturday, Dykes is aiming to get all his key attackers out on the pitch in the coming weeks.
“I think that if we can get the likes of McGinty, Curran, Owens and Armstrong out on the pitch then they will cause teams problems going forward. Ryan Curran did really well when he came on and he is a big player for us. 
“The difficulty has been that we haven’t been able to play that front four too often, we haven’t had a regular 11 this season and especially going forward but hopefully we can get a run now injury free,” he said.
He does though see an improvement in his side in recent weeks.
“We are getting better, it’s a time thing and we just have to keep tipping away until we can get a few bodies in and I think that is the key for us. It will give the thing a lift and we are making progress on it.”
For now though it is about picking up points and closing the gap on those sides directly ahead of them in the table with the Mallards then having Ards and Carrick to play during the festive programme.
“They way we are looking at it is that we need to pick up points before we play Carrick and Ards over the Christmas period. 
“If we get into a situation where we can pick up something and close the gap before we play them then that gives us a great incentive when we play them to try and get above them. Then if we can get above them the challenge will be to stay above them,” stated Dykes.
The Mallards are set to be without the injured Colm McLaughlin and Johnny Leddy as well as the suspended Ryan McConnell for this Saturday’s game against Glentoran but Richard Clarke will return from suspension while Curran should come into the starting line up.
And it is a game that Dykes feels his side are capable of getting a result from.
“We have a good record up there, we done well up there last season and if we are at it, I think we can get something out of this game. 
“We need to be on our game and we need to have a go and them and try and score a few goals but if we do that then I feel we can get a result,” he said.