Ballinamallard manager Mark Stafford has admitted that his team are facing a tough task when they take on table-topping Bangor at Ferney Park this Saturday.  

The Seasiders are currently on a six-game winning streak, and with the Mallards having lost their last two league games they will go into the match as big underdogs.   

“We are going to have to be at our very, very best to compete with them,” acknowledged Stafford.  

“We have had them watched a good bit. They have scored 29 goals in 10 games. They are averaging three goals a game basically, and they are putting teams away with ease.

"They are very direct, with two boys on fire up front, Ferguson and Arthurs. They are not conceding many either and they have good experience in the middle of the pitch.

"Robert Garrett, a lad I played with at Linfield, is in the centre of midfield for them, and they look really strong at the minute.” 

The Mallards task is even tougher given their current injury woes.  Gary Armstrong is nearing a return, but fellow midfielders Alex Holder and Aaron Harkin remain absent, and captain Aaron Arkinson and Richie Johnston are also doubts for Saturday’s game.  

“We have got more injuries, so at this stage, I think we are in a bit of a crisis, to be honest,” said Stafford.

“Richie Johnston has had issues with his knees for maybe six weeks now and he might have to sit out and try to get that right. Aaron Arkinson got a knee injury on Saturday, and we don’t know how that is going to be for the weekend.” 

While the size of Saturday’s task is undeniable, Stafford feels there are positives from the defeat against Annagh United last Saturday that they can take into the match against the league leaders.  

“We definitely should have got something out of the game,” reflected the manager. 

“We should have got at least a point, but it didn’t happen. It is sort of the way it has been going lately. The players gave me absolutely everything again, as they have done every week. They have been super for me.” 

The game was decided from the penalty spot, with Darragh Stewart missing a spot kick for the Mallards before Annagh scored their penalty to win the game.

Despite the narrow defeat, Stafford was pleased with the way his team responded to criticism over their set-piece defending in recent weeks.  

“We had done our homework on them, and we needed to get big bodies on the pitch to deal with set pieces,” he explained.

“They are a really direct team. We had to get Richie (Johnston), Peter (Maguire) and Dean (Corrigan) on the pitch, and Macca (Josh McIlwaine) played up front as well, and they all helped. It worked.

"The boys defended really, really well from set pieces and were brave. Unfortunately, they scored from the one set piece those boys can’t help, and that was a penalty.” 

The manager also had praise for 18-year-old goalkeeper Calvin Brown, who came through the youth structure at the club to make his debut for the first team.  

“Calvin was excellent,” said Stafford. “That was as tough a debut as you could have against that team in those conditions, so I am proud of Calvin.

"He was superb. He made a fantastic save in the first half tipping one over that was going into the top corner from distance. He did really well for a kid of 18.

"He was outstanding and he could not be faulted for the goal. I was really happy with him.”