Ballinamallard Manager Harry McConkey has vowed to go on the attack against Loughgall on Saturday, as they look to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since October.

The Mallards returned to winning ways with victory over Ards earlier this month, but they will have to overcome recent history if they are to make it six points from six.

Ballinamallard have not beaten Loughgall in their eight previous attempts, drawing three and losing five, but although their head to head record is poor, McConkey believes they can end that winless streak this time around.

“After winning the Ards game we want to keep that positive approach where we possibly can,” he revealed.

“We do feel that in so many of those recent games [against Loughgall] it could have swayed either way.

“They have always been good games, and when they beat us 2-1 late on the last time we met at Ferney, it was talked about as being one of the best games in the Championship. It was like a basketball game. Very open, with both teams going for it.”

Ballinamallard might be facing Loughgall at a favourable time in their season.

The long-time league leaders have suffered a dip in form in recent weeks, with two wins in their last nine league games seeing them slip off the top spot last weekend, but McConkey knows they will still provide a formidable test.

“Whenever you are out there in front, people want to chase them down, and that is clearly what is happening to Loughgall at the minute,” he said.

‘Pace setters’

“They have been the pace setters for a lot of the season, but in this league you have to have a spell when it is not going well, and at the moment they seem to be in that.

“That sounds good for us, but we know from the previous times we have played them that we have to be at our very best to get anything out of the game, even a point.

“During the transfer window they have lost Maciulaitis up top, who was central to their strike force, and I think that was a blow to them because he has bagged quite a few goals, and he was attracting a lot of interest from Senior clubs.

“They also have had a few injuries as well, but they have brought in Caolan Loughran from Ballymena, who is a threat on set plays and will have strengthened them at the back.

“They still have experienced players around the squad as well who will be looking to step in, so we can in no way underestimate them.”

Preparation for Saturday’s clash have been hindered once again by the weather, with the Mallards’ game at Institute called off last Friday ahead of an overnight thaw that meant their game was the only Championship clash to fall victim to the weather.

“I went to watch Loughgall play Dundela last Saturday and it was frustrating to see results coming in from all over the country, and we were the only team not to play, which was very disappointing for us and for our players,” admitted McConkey.

“We have had a cup final postponed and Saturday’s game postponed, and we have training three times in between and had to go indoors to do so, but these are the tests we have been faced with all season.

“We have to keep testing ourselves and I hope we can feel fresh and ready to really go at them on Saturday.”

The Mallards returned to action with a friendly against Enniskillen Town on Tuesday evening, and the Manager hopes to go into the weekend’s match with a strong squad.

“Shane McGinty has had a bout of sickness, and Josh McIlwaine took a knock on his knee in training, but we are hoping it is nothing serious,” McConkey revealed.

“Ryan Morris will not be ready for this Saturday, but he is coming back into training and we are hoping to see him back on the pitch very soon.”

With just a week left of the transfer window, the Manager has not yet given up hope of bringing in new faces, as he looks to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season.

“We are still engaging with managers with regards to potential signings, but nothing has been confirmed or agreed as yet,” he said.

“It is a very uncertain period, where things can happen very quickly or not happen at all.”

One player who has left the club this week is defender Shaun McDermott, who the club have released six months after his arrival from Finn Harps.