Ballinamallard United manager Harry McConkey is keen to keep pushing on following their Boxing Day derby win over Dergview.

The Mallards trailed at the break but second half goals from Ryan Campbell and Ross Taheny sealed the victory for McConkey’s charges.

After a slow start to the season the Ducks have enjoyed a good November and December, picking up 20 points from their last nine league games.

“Overall, apart from the second half performance against Loughgall, we have had a very good November and December and we want to keep that momentum going now into January,” said McConkey, whose side travel to Limavady on Saturday for another important game before they then host PSNI in the Irish Cup on January 5.

Indeed, the Mallards still retain slim hopes of making into the top six although they would need to win their last two games before the split and hope that those above them falter.

McConkey’s only focus though is on Limavady and he expects a tough test.

“Sean Friars has them playing good football and while we beat them 3-0 last time around there has been a lot of water under the bridge since that.

“We have to respect them fully and we will have to be on our toes going up there,” he added.

On Wednesday’s derby win, the result was the only thing that mattered for McConkey and players.

“There is no doubt about it, going into the game both sides knew that points were going to be vital. No matter what, it was going to be a tight battle and all you ultimately wanted was to come out the right side of it.

“It was a narrow margin in the end but we achieved what we set out to do and that was to get three points,” he said.

Ballinamallard had to find a response after falling behind to Matthew Kirk’s goal in the first half and the manager believes that the tough run they had in the early part of the season prepared them to deal with that.

“The setbacks that we suffered early in the year have probably prepared us for situations like going behind in that we know it is not a lost cause.

“The boys have always shown that they wanted to turn things around and for themselves, the club and the supporters they have been giving everything. The most encouraging thing for me is that when we did go 1-0 down to a very good counter attack goal we got back into it.

“They had come out of the blocks better than us in the first half although neither goalkeeper was worked an awful lot. I thought though we had a lot more pressure on their goal in the second half.

“At half time we talked about the movement of the players up front to cause them more of a problem. We started to give them much more problems in the second half and territorially we got ourselves into a good place,” he stated.

McConkey has already moved to strengthen his squad with the signing of Robbie Hume but he is not expecting too much movement in or out of the club in January.

“I don’t expect to do a lot of business in January.

“ Obviously, there are times in January when you get to hear about players being released by other clubs and that has a knock on affect on what other people do so we will keep our eyes and ears open.

“If it is something that helps strengthen the squad or gives us an option that we don’t have then we will certainly explore that but I’m not expecting much movement at all,” concluded the Mallards boss.