Ballinamallard manager Tommy Canning has asked his team to restore some “respect and pride” in their final game of the season, after crashing to a 5-0 home defeat to Ards.

The Mallards went into Saturday’s penultimate league game 18 points better off than their opponents, but they were torn apart in the first half as they suffered their heaviest home league defeat for five years.

Canning is determined that they are not going to end the season on a low, and has challenged his team to bounce back at Ferney Park on Friday evening against Ballyclare Comrades.

“We are very lucky that we have another game so that we can get back some level of respect and a wee bit of pride,” he said.

“It would have been an absolute horror show to end the season on that type of performance and that type of result. We are lucky to have another game at home, and the players need to respond.

"They need to set the record straight and address the events of Saturday, and that is what will be expected of them. I fully expect them to put on a far, far better show than what they showed last weekend.”

Visitors Ballyclare, will present a tough challenge for the Mallards.

Stephen Small’s team have not lost a league game in over a month and have a 100 per cent win record in their post-split fixtures.

“They will want to win the game, and they won’t be coming down just to go through the motions,” acknowledged Canning.

“We need to match that and need to make sure we get a result.”

Last Saturday’s game was lost when Ballinamallard conceded four goals in just 11 minutes midway through the first half.

Ards added a fifth just before half-time to put the result beyond doubt, and despite four substitutes entering the fray at half-time, the home team were unable to mount a recovery.

“It was a bad day all round,” conceded the manager.

“The first half was very poor defensively. We had made some changes, not for the first time, and we stood by the idea of giving people an opportunity. Some in recent weeks took their opportunity, but some on Saturday didn’t really.

"It was a very poor first-half display. We contemplated making the changes even before half-time because that type of scoreline at home after 45 minutes of football is completely unacceptable. It isn’t good enough and it can’t be tolerated. It can’t be accepted and it won’t be.

"It's not anywhere near where we want to be or where we need to be. Regardless of changes, and who did play and who didn’t play, and regardless of what was at stake or not, to deliver that kind of performance anywhere, never mind at home, is just unacceptable.”