Ballinamallard’s 3-0 defeat to Glenavon on Friday was just their second league defeat in the last eight games, but the game could have a lasting effect on their season, with the injury list starting to mount. The squad was already light before the clash at Mourneview Park, but Gavin Dykes’ side suffered another blow when influential captain James McKenna suffered a broken collar bone. The manager admits the midfielder will be a big loss to the team.

“We have lost James which is an absolute killer blow for us,” he admitted. “He has been outstanding for us not only on the pitch but for his leadership, but he looks like he will be out for the rest of the season with a collar bone break. Shane(McCabe) is going to be out for a while as well with a foot injury. It looks like it might be a chipped metatarsal and it could be three or four weeks out. We will have to look and see what our option are there and decide which way we go, but we are losing two of our influential players. We are already missing Ryan McConnell as well who will be out for another few weeks and those are three players who have played most of the season. Ryan Curran still isn’t ready to start so we are missing four players who are talented boys that we would like to be using, but that is the way football is, and you have to get on with it.”

Two late goals gave the Glenavon score line a convincing look in favour of the home team.

One goal separated the sides for much of the match, but the Mallards rarely threatened as they failed to build on back to back wins.

“It was a disappointing result. A bad night at the office,” said Gavin. “I thought we were well in it at half time. There was a strong breeze and conditions were tough but I thought we started the second half very well and for 15 or 20 minutes I thought we would get back into it. We went chasing the game then and with five or six minutes left we pushed everyone on and went for an equaliser, and we got picked off. I have no complaint about the result. Glenavon deserved it and we have to accept it and move on. We didn’t create an awful lot though and that was the disappointing thing. We didn’t work their keeper enough.”

Next up for Ballinamallard is a Ferney Park clash against Ballymena on Saturday. The visitors will come into the match with a cup final victory still fresh in their minds, but Gavin is hopeful Ballinamallard can take some points off them for the first time this season. “They will be coming here as an established top six club and they will be confident,” he said. “Ballymena have just lifted the first trophy of the season and well done to them, they deserved it. It is a big challenge for us. We have played them twice and they have beaten us twice this season. When they come to Ferney Park we will be looking to make life difficult for them and hopefully go and get something from the game.”