Ballinamallard interim manager Mark Stafford was full of praise for his players as they delivered a victory in his first game in charge.

A Simon Warrington goal proved enough to take all three points against Ballyclare and round off Stafford’s first week in charge in perfect fashion, but the temporary boss heaped all the credit onto his squad.

“I was very impressed with the players,” he said. “They were excellent on Saturday, and they put in a big shift for me during the week.

“I thought we deserved the three points. We limited them to very few chances. They didn’t have a clear cut chance in the game, and they are a good side that normally do create chances. That is credit to how hard the boys worked and the way they kept it all together.

‘I couldn’t fault anybody’

“I couldn’t fault anybody on Saturday. Everybody gave everything and it was very pleasing.”

Stafford opted to change the formation of the team ahead of the game, and he felt the alteration to a back four paid dividends.

“The change of the shape worried me a wee bit going into the game to be honest, but the players took it on board really well and we worked on it on Thursday night at training. It worked well for us, and we caused them a few problems in the wide areas.

“It proved to be a very important three points when you look at the league table. If we hadn’t won the game we would be second bottom. That is eight points out of a possible 12 now, with two wins and two draws in the last four.”

While Stafford was delighted with the efforts of every member of the squad, he reserved particular praise for players at either end of the pitch, with Jack Le Moignan’s back to back clean sheets crucial to the Mallards upturn in form, and Simon Warrington’s ever increasing goal return helping to solve their early season goal scoring crisis.

“That is Jack’s second clean sheet in a row. He had been getting a bit of criticism for the odd goal he was conceding here and there, but he has really stepped up over the last few weeks and has been very good for us.

“Hopefully he can continue that form.

“Simon deserved his goal on Saturday,” he continued.

“He put in a huge shift for the team, as did the rest of the players, but Simon was playing up front on his own and it was great to see him score. He deserved that goal big time.”

Despite overseeing a victory, Stafford is keen to return to his playing duties as soon as possible, with the club confident they can make an appointment in the very near future.

Stafford admitted that his first week as a manager was a very different experience.

“It was a hectic week,” he admitted.

“Friday was probably the most difficult day, with the pressure and wondering how we were we going to do, how were the players going to perform, were we going to get a result?

“The sponsors were down at the club for a dinner before the match, and family was going to the game, and I was worried in case the team didn’t turn up, but I shouldn’t have had those worries.

“The team did turn up and they were outstanding for me and the rest of the staff and the club.

“Hopefully now we can bring that momentum into the game on Saturday against Bangor.”

Ballinamallard will go into this weekend’s match with almost a full squad to chose from.

Difficult challenge

Callum Moorehead is the only injury concern, but despite being able to field a strong squad Stafford is expecting a difficult challenge.

“It is going to be very tough against Bangor,” he acknowledged.

“They beat us 3-0 at home a few weeks ago, but they were on the end of a bad result at the weekend, losing 4-0 to Institute, so I’m sure there will be a reaction.

“Lee Feeney won’t want to see another performance like that this Saturday and I’m sure he will get a reaction.”