At this stage of the season the goal is simple for Gavin Dykes. All he wants to do is get over the line and secure their Premiership status for next season.

Indeed, he has been very clear about the target from the start of the season and that is to improve on last season when Ballinamallard finished in the bottom two following a dramatic last day. If that means finishing one point ahead of the play-off place, then that’s job done.

The Mallards are currently 11 points clear of second from bottom Carrick Rangers but Dykes knows that the job is not complete just yet.

“It’s all about getting the job done and we still have work to do on that front. My focus has always been to improve on last year, so if we can get safe and not be involved in a play off then that’s the first part of the job done.

“The second part is then to build on that for next year and the following part will be the season after and trying to push on again.

“However, there is no quick fix, we have come a long way in a short space of time and we have to try and get over the line and make sure we are safe” he added.

The Mallards lost out to Ballymena last Saturday at Ferney Park but Dykes will be hoping that they can bounce back on Friday week when they take on Ards in a crunch game where a win would lift Ballinamallard above their opponents.

“It is a huge game as it gives us the opportunity to go above them but it is going to be a tough game. Colin Nixon has come in and steadied the ship for them, they were on a bit of a bad run but they have picked up a few results. It’s a game though that we are looking forward to, it’s a long trip on a Friday night but hopefully it will be worthwhile.

The Mallards boss is also hopeful of having a number of players back from injury for that game next week. Shane McCabe, Ryan Curran and Josh McIlwaine all missed the Ballymena encounter but he hopes that they will be back for Ards.

“Ryan Curran, is struggling with an ankle injury and we hadn’t been able to get to the bottom of it. We are hoping though that we have it sorted and all going well Josh and Ryan should be in contention along with Shane McCabe for the Ards game, and that’s three big players. Ryan McConnell is also making strides, the Ards game might be a bit too soon but he mightn’t be too far away for the Crusaders game and once we get them players back we’ll be a lot stronger,” he said.

Ballinamallard battled hard last Saturday against Ballymena and Dykes felt that it was a game that they maybe deserved to get a point out of.

“I thought we probably deserved something out of it to be honest. There has been a couple of times when we have won this year when we probably only deserved to draw but I felt we deserved to get something from Ballymena. I’m a bit disappointed, especially after taking the lead but it was an uncharacteristic mistake by Brushie who has been great for us and we have just got to go and move on from it,” commented Dykes.

The goalkeeper, who has been outstanding to date for Ballinamallard, was at fault for what proved to be the winner for Ballymena but Dykes says that it will just make him more determined to not let it happen again.

“He was gutted and he’ll work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again. He has been brilliant for us and goalkeeping is a hard position to play because if you make a mistake it’s usually a goal where as if you do the same thing out the pitch you get away with it.”

With the game at 1-1 as half time approached, the home side had a fine chance to take the lead going in at the interval but Shane McGinty was denied by the goalkeeper while Jason McCartney’s follow up was blocked and Dykes felt this was a major turning point.

“It was a clear cut chance and we also had two bites at it but we didn’t take it and at this level that’s what it is all about, it’s about taking your chances.

Then for the last 25 minutes we bombarded them and we had a couple of chances to get an equaliser. I was a lot happier that we had a go which is something we didn’t do against Glenavon. That night we didn’t create anything but at least we created chances on Saturday.

Dykes also had praise for Callum Frempong who impressed when coming off the bench.

I thought Callum was excellent when he came on and I think he is going to be a smashing player.”