Ballinamallard booked their place in the last four of the North West Cup with a win over Ardstraw on Tuesday night and while there was a mix of the good and the not so good in the game, the result will give the side a lift heading into this Saturday’s league encounter away to Portadown.

The Mallards had lost eight leagues games on the bounce before drawing their last outing against Loughgall and coach Steve Feeney feels that the last two results gives them something to build on.

“After the run of defeats it was nice to come away from Loughgall with the point and tonight was all about the result.

“It also gives us something to build on but we have a tough test now on Saturday away to Portadown,” he said.

Portadown sit third in the table and defeated the Mallards earlier in the campaign although it was a day that the Mallards deserved much more from having hit the woodwork three times.

“The day we played them in Ferney I thought we bossed the game but they scored late on. I don’t think there is anything to fear but we have to go there and perform and try and come back with another positive result,” said Feeney.

On Tuesday night’s win, Feeney felt there was good and bad about the Ducks performance.

“The positives are that we are in a cup semi-final, we scored four goals, played some lovely football and there was some decent performances but we just need to cut out the sloppiness so we don’t concede as many as we have been conceding.

“There was also boys taking too many touches or making wrong decisions and we have to stop that moving forward,” he added.