Ballinamallard defender Colm McLaughlin believes team spirit can be the vital ingredient in hauling the team off the foot of the Premier League table. 
The visit of fellow strugglers Warrenpoint last Saturday evening was seen as a real opportunity to secure their second league win of the campaign, but a draw meant the long wait for another victory goes on. 
A trip to Ballymena this weekend gives them another chance to claim three points, and the central defender is sounding confident. 
“It is frustrating and that obviously goes for the whole team, but the morale is really good,” he said. 
“In training everyone is buzzing, in good form and in good spirits. We are looking forward to this Saturday coming. Everyone’s head is on that and we are looking forward to it and hopefully we can do enough up there to get a win and maybe change the season for us. It has to be somewhere we have to be thinking about getting something. 
“We have to go into every match now looking for something, and definitely this Saturday we will be looking to come away with a victory and take the points back down the road.”
For a spell in the second half against Warrenpoint if looked as though the Mallards would hold on to their one goal advantage, but the dismissal of Richard Clarke followed by a Darren Murray strike ended those hopes. 
“The sending off changed the game,” reckoned Colm. 
“It was kind of a level playing field before then and when we got one up I thought we were comfortable enough. 
“They had a few chances but nothing all that clear cut but the second yellow card changed the momentum of the match and left us on the back foot. They didn’t really cause us many problems, and even after going a man down the only real chance they had was from the corner kick they scored from. We were still well in the match but we were unfortunate to concede that goal.”
The search for a victory has seen Ballinamallard try out several different formations, switching from four at the back to three, and in recent weeks back to four again. 
Colm says he does not mind which system he is asked to play in, but is hopeful reverting to a back four will help stop them leaking goals. 
“We were conceding too many goals for everybody’s liking so we have switched it back to the four to try to get a bit of stability and hopefully we can go forward from there,” he explained. 
“I have played both systems for a long time and I don’t mind either. Three in defence is a formation we use to try and play the ball out from the back and get the ball and play a bit of football, but when teams press high up against us it is hard to play and takes the good away from the formation.”
Ballinamallard’s defence has been a weakness this season, conceding goals at an average of almost three goals per game. 
Colm admits that both personally and as a team, it has been disappointing. 
“I wouldn’t say I’m happy,” he admitted. 
“Personal form isn’t important when you are lying at the bottom of the table. I would rather be playing horrible every week and picking up points here and there. 
“I have gone through spells of good patches and bad patches and I think that reflects on the team too.” 
The Mallards will be hoping that Saturday’s trip to Ballymena will be remembered as a good patch.