Ballinamallard manager Harry McConkey has urged his side to take the performance they displayed against Premiership champions Crusaders on Tuesday night into Saturday’s game against Loughgall.

The Mallards have suffered eight successive league defeats but recent games suggest that they may be beginning to find form although McConkey knows that they have to turn that into points.

“You get a performance like that away to a team like Crusaders and now the key is to go to a very difficult ground in Loughgall and try and produce the same performance.

“The bottom line is that anything less than that and we will get nothing from the game,” he said.

The Mallards had looked as if they were on their way to a wonderful victory after taking the lead in the second half through 16 year old Micheal Glynn but two late goals ended the Mallards hopes in the cup.

“It was sickening to lose like that and I’m sick to the teeth of losing games by fine margins but I can’t fault the players and we just need them to get over the line now in terms of getting a win. I think that despite the result, the players can take a lot of positives out of the game,” added McConkey.

McConkey started both Glynn and Darragh McBrien against the Crues and both showed their quality on the night.

“Micheal showed composure all night of somebody way above his years while Darragh picked up more fouls because of his pace. I thought Josh McIlwaine also did well and gave their centre halves a tough time,” stated McConkey.