Ballinamallard Manager Harry McConkey has watched his side begin to find their form in recent weeks with the win over Knockbreda a fourth in a row in various competitions – but he accepts that they are going to have to be at their best if they are to take anything from a strong Loughgall side at Ferney Park on Saturday.

The Villagers were tipped by McConkey at the start of the season to be among the title contenders and they are showing that form, having hit ten goals in their last two league outings.

“This is a game that we have to be nothing less than at our best to get anything from it. Loughgall made some very astute signings, and they have players who have great experience of the championship as well, so they are going to be a formidable opponent,” said McConkey, who will be hoping that his side can put an end to successive defeats at Ferney Park to Loughgall.

“The last two times they have come here they have beaten us. They are a team that loves to come to Ferney Park; they love the surface and they play with a good tempo.

“Loughgall are a go-ahead club, they have formed links with Shamrock Rovers and Huddersfield Town and they are very much geared for going up this season but lets just hope we can put a spanner in their works,” added the Ducks boss.

The Mallards chief though believes that these are the type of games that his players should be relishing.

“When we have big games like this I always want my players to embrace them, they are the ones they should really enjoy. The size of the challenge brings everybody up another gear and if we are not at that level we will get punished.”

And, like Loughgall, Ballinamallard are a side coming into the game in good form with the win over Knockbreda their fourth on the bounce, and their first win in the league at home.

“That first home league win was important to us, but more importantly, it was a fourth win in a row and regardless of what the competitions are, winning is a good habit to have.

“We don’t want to be taking any steps back if we can avoid that; we need to keep stepping forward so everything will go into that this week when Loughgall will be our full focus.

“Two or three wins can alter everything and we are not happy with where we are at the moment either. We are not too far away but we need to push on,” he said.

Against Knockbreda, McConkey was pleased with his side’s performance at both ends of the pitch, with strikers Josh McIlwaine and BJ Banda both scoring, while at the other end they kept a clean sheet.

“We got our two strikers scoring, got the three points and kept a clean sheet, and it’s a lift for everyone at the club,” he added.

Indeed, the Mallards Manager is delighted to see McIlwaine starting to find the net.

“He gives us another dimension, while you have the pace and trickery of BJ around him, Josh is a big presence in both boxes and he is very physical. We want him to pitch in with more goals, and I’m so pleased for him that he has chipped in with goals in his last two games, and I’m hoping that gives him more self-belief,” he said.

The only negative to come out of the game was an injury to defender Dean Curry which could rule him out for Saurday.

“The only downside of it was that Dean Curry picked up a hamstring injury. That was the one dark patch, because he has been outstanding for us, and coming into Saturday’s game it would be great to have him but we are not sure if that’s still going to be the case,” he said.