Saturday’s 3-1 victory away to Carrick Rangers saw Ballinamallard make it back to back wins in the league and lift themselves off the foot of the Championship table.

Whisper it quietly, but the Mallards may be starting to turn the corner after a difficult opening the season following relegation last year.

Manager Harry McConkey though is not going to get carried away with things and knows there is still a lot of work to be done if the Mallards are to continue to climb the table.

“There’s no doubt that it is a boost to not be bottom but it is not something to get too carried away about. We have to stay grounded and we know there is still a lot of hard work to be done. It is though still nice, you feel that you are moving forward and it is what you have been asking for all along.

“We want to build on recent results, and we know we have to build on them,” he commented.

Next up for the Ducks is another away game, this time against PSNI. A win for McConkey’s side would see them close the gap between the two to one point but he stresses that this is another very tough test for his side.

“We go away for another huge test against PSNI on Saturday who are just off the back of beating Portadown so it is going to be another tough test for us. We are going to have to be very good yet again but that is the challenge we are setting to them every week. Look, goals and points will give you self belief but we in no way have any right to be over confident as we still sit second from the bottom of the Championship,” he added.

It is the start of a big run of games for the Mallards and McConkey feels that with the recent wins they can enter that in a positive frame of mind.

“The challenges that the players are now facing is a real test of their character and qualities but hopefully they are in a better place psychologically to confront those challenges in a much more positive manner,” he said.

Last Saturday the Mallards made the trip to the Loughshore Arena to face Carrick Rangers and McConkey explains that they now approach games with the intent of feeling their way into it.

“When you go away from home, and even at home in some games, we have adopted the approach that we have to stay in a game early on and find our way into it and we did that on Saturday.”

Indeed, McConkey was happy with the first half performance.

“I was really pleased with the commitment in the first half.

“I thought John Connolly was outstanding in goals and I feel the back three of Ben, Matthew and Ryan are growing with every game. They are learning in every match and that is pleasing because they are very young.

In the middle of the field Gary Henderson came in alongside Richard Clarke and I thought he complimented him brilliantly while up front Darragh, Josh and Ryan all gave Carrick something different to think about,” he stated.

And then came the three goals in a stunning five minute spell that put the game to bed.

“I was delighted for the boys and it was good to see things that we work on at training coming off and they were three created goals which was very pleasing,” stated Harry.

McConkey was also happy to give the supporters something to cheer about.

“It was heart warming to see the number of supporters who travelled to Carrick to back a team that were bottom of the Championship and we were delighted to give them something to smile about for that long journey back,” he concluded.