Michael McCrudden scored his first two goals for Ballinamallard in the win over Banbridge Town on Tuesday evening, and then vowed that there would be more to come. The new signing from Institute produced a dazzling man of the match display against the lower league opposition and showed glimpses of why manager Whitey Anderson was so keen to bring him to Ferney Park this summer. His incisive running, close control and link up play with Liam Martin and Johnny Lafferty proved too much for Town to deal with, but despite impressing the fans this season he reckons he can so better.

“I haven’t really started as well as I would have liked but hopefully I can keep on pushing,” he said. “I am feeling more comfortable all the time and I am getting to know my team mates better. Last season I was injured for most of the season so I feel I’m still getting to grips with things again but I definitely have a lot more to show. That was my first goals and I would like to contribute a lot more to goal scoring.” McCrudden signed for Newcastle United as a teenager, but after three years at the club and without making the breakthrough to the first team he returned home to play for Derry City. After just 12 games in 18 months he moved across the city to play for Institute, where he scored 27 goals in 67 games. His last season with Institute was disrupted by injury, but he is confident that he has put those problems behind him and has settled well with his new team.

“As soon as I came in the boys all made me feel really, really welcome,” he said. “They are a good bunch of lads. I knew when I was coming how good some of the boys were and they have brought in even more players since them. Training has been really, really good and all the practice sessions have been brilliant. I have been very impressed with the players I am playing around.” Next up for McCrudden and his new teammates is the challenge of Linfield. The league leaders come to Ferney Park in a good run of form, but despite their obviously quality Michael believes they can upset the odds and take something from the game.

“It’s a very, very big game on Saturday,” he acknowledged. “I don’t think we have got what we have deserved in the league, but we are where we are and there is no better way to move forward than to start against Linfield. Everyone seems in good form after the result against Banbridge so we have to bring that into Saturday. I don’t see any reason why we can’t get a result against them. In this league everybody can beat everybody else. They have started very well and fair play to them, but we can get a result.”