Niall Owens reckons Saturday’s encounter against Warrenpoint at Ferney Park is their biggest match of the season. 
With just one win in the first twelve league games Ballinamallard are in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the table, but Saturday’s encounter gives them an opportunity to claw themselves back into contention and winger Owens is hopeful they will take their chance.
“It is definitely our biggest game of the season so far,” he said. 
“We are both down near the bottom of the table, and I think it will be a fight for both teams. It will be about who wants it more. We can’t lose any more ground on the teams that are above us or it will be very hard to haul them back. I feel that we have a good enough squad of players that can get us out of where we are. 
“We are a better team than some of the teams above us, but whatever has happened this year it just hasn’t happened for us. It hasn’t clicked. Everyone has faith in ourselves and faith in Gavin that we can drag ourselves out of it and hopefully on Saturday that will be the start of it.”
The Mallards are currently on a run of five consecutive defeats, the latest reversal coming at the hands of Glenavon last Saturday. 
“It was always going to be very hard but conceding just before half time deflated us a wee bit,” reflected Niall. 
“We had a game plan for the second half just to stick in the game and maybe we could get something, but silly mistakes cost us again.”
Niall was the one bright spark among the ten outfield players, and he is delighted to have forced his way back into the team after a frustrating spell on the side lines through injury. 
“I picked up a hamstring injury against Cliftonville earlier in the season, and then I came back against Ballymena too early and it went again,” he said. 
“From the Milk Cup I didn’t have a break and I went straight back to playing with Ballinamallard. That was probably my own fault because I didn’t want to stop playing. I missed four or five games but I came back against Coleraine and Gavin put me straight back in. 
“I have played every minute since then. I don’t cope well with being injured and sitting on the side lines watching, so I’m glad to be back playing. It was deflating watching games and coming back with no points but I’m feeling good now. 
“Since coming back I have played the full 90 minutes and Gavin has kept me in the team, and I hope I can stay in there and get the business done. I feel my sharpness is back now and I am feeling good. I haven’t scored in a long time so hopefully it will happen soon!” Saturday would the perfect time to recapture that goal scoring feeling.