Whitey Anderson has made his fourth signing of the January transfer window, securing the signature of Crusaders striker Stephen O’Flynn. 
The big front man will come into the squad for Saturday’s game against Ballymena, as the manager looks for a solution to the goal scoring problem that sees the Mallards with the lowest number of goals scored in the league.
“We have worked on this for over a week and it has been a long arduous process but we are delighted to have secured his signature for the rest of the season,” said Whitey. 
“He is an experienced player. He scored 18 goals in a short space of time for Institute last season, and he is the sort of player we could do with. He brings something very different to the table. He is very strong, holds the ball up well, plays other people in, and also he can score goals. Hopefully we can see that in action when he plays for us. He’s a good signing.”
The capture of O’Flynn is likely to see the end of a busy transfer window for the Mallards, with the squad also having welcomed Ivan Sproule, Ryan Mayse and Jake Dykes and seen the departure of Liam Martin. Whitey admits he is happy with the business the club have completed. 
“I’m very happy with the way the January window has gone,” he said. “With Ivan Sproule and Stephen O’Flynn we have two very experienced players plus young Ryan Mayse who is a bit of an unknown quantity but has huge potential. Then we have Jake Dykes in for cover at the back for Colm McLaughlin who is out for six weeks. Under the circumstances it has been a good bit of business and now we have to settle down and plan our way ahead. You never say never but I would image that is probably all the signings we will be making in January.”
Ballinamallard’s 2-0 defeat at Cliftonville on Saturday was their tenth consecutive league game without a win, but despite the result the manager saw enough positives to give him encouragement for the remainder of the campaign. 
“The overall performance was excellent,” he said. 
”We hit the post in the first minute and in the second half we kept them at bay and tried to push forward. We were well organised but what was disappointing was we conceded the first goal from a free kick when we fell asleep. 
“We were unlucky not to get a penalty but from where the referee was standing he probably didn’t see it from that angle. Sometimes when you are down where we are you don’t get these things going your way. They scored with the last kick of the game when we had pushed forward and they caught us on the break but once again it was a really positive performance and I just know if we can show the same level of intensity for the last 14 games of the season, that is what we need.”
Saturday’s defeat coupled with wins for both Warrenpoint and Carrick Rangers leave the Mallards in the bottom two just a point ahead of Warrenpoint who have put together a six match unbeaten run. 
The visit to Ferney Park of Ballymena marks the start of a crucial run of games for Ballinamallard against teams in the bottom half of the league, and a winning run could go a long way towards salvaging their season. 
“It’s a massive three weeks for us with Ballymena, Warrenpoint, Portadown and Dungannon and those are games we simply have to target for wins or certainly get good points on the board,” said Whitey. “Ballymena are pushing for the seventh spot which will get them into the European play off and they beat us in the last two games down here, but they are always close games and it going to be no different on Saturday. We have some very big games coming up but we just have to stay focussed on ourselves. We have a two week break after this until the Warrenpoint game, and we have to take the game to them, be positive and try to get three points. It’s nothing more complicated than that. The reality is that we have to look after ourselves. If we go out there and put in the performances that we are capable of then it doesn’t matter what anyone else does. We have to target wins. It’s as simple as that and would give everybody a lift.”
Ballinamallard will go into the game with almost a full squad to choose from, with only long term absentee Colm McLaughlin not available for selection.