Having conceded decisive injury time goals in three of their last nine matches, Ballinamallard manager Harry McConkey was delighted to finally turn the tables with a 94th minute winner against H&W Welders.

The manager has repeatedly witnessed his team spurn chances in front of goal before the opposition finds the net to claim the points, and McConkey feared history would repeat itself on Tuesday evening at Ferney Park before McIlwaine’s late header finally broke the sequence.

“I just felt it had to turn,” said a relieved McConkey.

“It had been another game where we hadn’t taken our opportunities and as a result we get stung again with their equaliser. We have to stop revisiting that scenario and we had to break that, and that is why it was great to turn it the other way and know that it can happen to us too.

“Teams have been very lucky to win matches against ourselves through set plays, and that is exactly what we did from our corner kick. The delivery was great, and Macca produced a great header. It was a fantastic result because they are one of the top form teams in the league and last time out in the league they won 7-1. They had been scoring goals for fun.”

McIlwaine had scored three goals in his last two games before suspension, and the two game interruption did not stop his flow of goals, proving the manager was justified in bringing him straight back into the starting line-up.

“Nick Palmer had come in and there was a dilemma of who should start because Nick has done very well as a youngster, full of energy,” said the manager.

“We went on the side of Macca’s experience and what he offers in both boxes, and in hindsight that proved to be the right call. I was delighted for him. He is now on four goals, and he needs to keep believing in those situations.”

The boss was also impressed with the quality of goal from Arkinson, who opened the scoring with a dinked finish over the keeper.

“It was an exquisite goal,” said McConkey. “He has taken the keeper out of it with his finish, and he had the coolness and calmness to finish. He took the goal like a polished goal scorer and took it with real confidence. It was exactly what was needed in the situation to eliminate the keeper. It was a really, really good goal.”

Welders appeared to be the team in form going into the match, but they had endured late heartbreak in the Irish Cup against Premiership leaders Larne, and the Mallards took full advantage of the situation.

“They did rest a few players after their exertions against Larne, and that is what I was hoping for - that they would have tired legs and they would have to be pushing their players to the limit,” said McConkey.

“With us not playing on Saturday, except for a few playing for the Reserves, it played out that way towards the end because we were still going strong.

“We definitely created more and had more chances. Welders have been winning games by defending resolutely with an excellent keeper and finishing any chances they have had up top. I am absolutely delighted that my players have at long last got a reward for their work.”

The middle of the Championship table sees four teams from fifth to eighth separated by just one point. Ballinamallard are currently in eighth, but a match against bottom club Knockbreda offers an opportunity to move upwards.

“Knockbreda is a game that is so important to us,” admitted the boss. “It is so, so tight and there is no room for any slippage. We have to go there and give a really good performance. The last time we went to Knockbreda it was a 2-1 win and it should have been a much more comfortable win, but we saw how dangerous they can be if you don’t put them to bed.

“We want to be exploiting their situation at the bottom of the league. We have to go and play with real energy and real confidence because nothing else will do. This league has an awful habit of throwing up shocks and we have seen it far too often and we do not want to be on the wrong end of that. This result gives us a level of confidence going into the game.”

Mark Stafford took a blow to the foot in the game against the Welders and will have to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s match. Ryan Morris also finished the game with a hip issue that throws his participation into doubt, while Shane McGinty has an outside chance of returning to the squad for the trip to East Belfast.

 

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