Ballinamallard midfielder Shane McCabe is hoping that they can take the improvement shown against Portadown into this Friday night’s clash against Coleraine at the Showgrounds.

The Mallards were well beaten by Crusaders a fortnight ago but McCabe feels that they were unfortunate to come out of Saturday’s encounter with the Ports empty handed.

“I’m as critical as anyone, both of my own performance and the team performance, the boys will tell you that, but I thought we definitely deserved a point, if not all three on Saturday.

“In relation to possession and playing football, we deserved all three points and I do feel that there was a lot of positives to take from it. We played some lovely football and we dominated possession after the opening 15 minutes or so but if there was anything lacking it was a wee bit of creativity and we just didn’t test their goalkeeper enough. At the end of the day, the game is about putting the ball in the back of the net so it is something for us to work on,” he added.

He was in no doubt that the display against the Ports was much better than the one against the Crues.

“I can’t comment too much on the Crusaders match as I wasn’t playing but I was up at it and everyone would know that it was a disappointing performance. For us to do anything or go anywhere we have to work hard and I don’t think we worked as hard as we could against Crusaders. But against Portadown from 1 to 11 we were very good, everybody worked really hard and it was a big improvement,” he said.

And the aim now is to take that performance and build on it against the Bannsiders.

“It’s a tough game and a long trip on a Friday evening. We will all do a day’s work and then go up the road to Coleraine but we want to play the same sort of football as we played on Saturday while maybe creating a bit more. Hopefully we will go up there and put in a good performance. We’re under no illusion that it is going to be a difficult game but at the same time we’ll be looking to take something out of the game. We’re all aware that points are key but we won’t start panicking or anything like that, it is only early in the season.” Indeed, McCabe is confident that results will come when the new players all settle into the club and new partnerships are formed.

“In fairness to Whitey, he has a good squad assembled. I think with weddings and what not we have only had the one session with the full 22 man squad. Also with new players you have people trying to form understanding. For example, there is myself and James (McKenna) who are like two peas in pod outside the game, where you see him you usually see me, but we hadn’t played on a football pitch together too often and we are trying to strike up a good understanding which I think we are starting to do.” The Belcoo native has been impressive in the games he has played to date although he admits that niggling injuries have left him frustrated.

“I started pre-season and was going well but then I picked up a couple of niggly injuries and then on Saturday I felt I was getting that sharpness back and was feeling comfortable on the ball and I hurt my groin.” He is though enjoying life back at Ferney Park and wants the club to push on.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying being back, it is a great club but we don’t want to just be known as a nice wee country club, we need to drive on now.”