Ballinamallard manager Harry McConkey is eager to continue their recent run of good form when they host Newry City on Saturday.

The Mallards have three wins and a draw from their last four league games as they have pushed up to fourth place in the table and will hope to continue building momentum and confidence.

“We have been saying since pre-season that we want to build on last season and we also want to now build on the momentum that we have built up in recent weeks and continue to move in the right direction with a positive result on Saturday,” said McConkey.

However, he is expecting a tough test against a Newry City side who have struggled for results since their relegation from the Premiership at the end of last season.

“Newry are one of those teams, like so many in this league, that results don’t reflect their performances so far. They have a lot of experienced and quality players in their side, they are a very good team who are very dangerous on the counter-attack.

“They will be coming to Ferney Park though knowing that they have to start getting points on the board so we do expect it to be tough.

“They drew with Knockbreda and lost to PSNI in their last two games and their manager Darren Mullin will be looking for a reaction so we will have to be 100 per cent at our game,” said McConkey.

The Ducks boss was also busy in the transfer market as the window came to a close last weekend.

McConkey brought in two players to his squad with 21 year old Callum Moorehead joined by midfielder Darren Freeman.

It has been no secret that the Mallards were keen on adding to their attacking options and McConkey is delighted to have captured Moorehead from Institute.

“I think he will be a great addition for us. I met him and his Dad on Friday morning and we eventually got things over the line on Friday night,” said McConkey.

“He can play anywhere along the front three and he has wonderful tactical ability and has great feet and a great attitude. He is a kid who has done well at Institute but with the numbers they have signed this year he thought he wasn’t going to get enough game time and he really wants to come and make a mark with us.

“I think the Ferney faithful will enjoy him,” added the Mallard boss.

And McConkey then added the experienced Freeman on Saturday.

“Darren has previously played with Newry and Warrenpoint and he wanted to get back in the game after a few years out. He won’t come in until late September or October but the opportunity is there for him to come in and train with us and for us to have a look at him and we’ll see how it goes,” said Harry.

On the win over H&W Welders last Saturday, McConkey said that he was delighted to finally pick up the points at a tough away venue.

“Tillysburn Park is a difficult place to go and in my time we hadn’t won there so it was nice to change that. It was an assured performance.

“I always felt that we never really got our just rewards up there so I’m just delighted.

“What pleased us most at the end of the game was that there was parts of that game where we had to show the ugly side to our game but the players all stood up and did it,” he commented.