Jeffrey in '˜dreamland' after four-goal United display

David Jeffrey admitted he was in 'dreamland' after Ballymena United's four-goal first half display in today's win at Dungannon Swifts.
David Jeffrey was delighted with Ballymena United's performance in Saturday's 4-2 win at Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.David Jeffrey was delighted with Ballymena United's performance in Saturday's 4-2 win at Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.
David Jeffrey was delighted with Ballymena United's performance in Saturday's 4-2 win at Dungannon Swifts. Picture: Press Eye.

The Sky Blues hit the net four times inside the opening 35 minutes in a 4-2 win which saw United move above their opponents into seventh position in the Danske Bank Premiership table.

“It’s been a good day for us, with the way the other (bottom six) results went,” said Jeffrey.

“The last time the players played against Dungannon, they really let themselves down and I told them that’s a game we need to erase and they did that.

“The second target was that if we got the victory against Dungannon, then we go ahead of them so those were the two big motivators today.

“I said to the players that what they had done thus far has been more than commendable but in my mind, the real battle started today, to be brutally honest - because it was so very, very tight (at the bottom of the table).

“I said we should have a fiar degree of confidence in ourselves given the results we have had so far but now we have to go out and turn those performances into even better results.

“Coming down here today, Dungannon are a very good side - I’m not just saying that to be patronising - they pass the ball about so quickly and their movement is very good and we had to match that.

“But my own players’ creativity, work rate and commitment were there in abundance and I thought we played some superb football.

“What pleased me was that the players were very sharp mentally - epitomised probably by the first goal when the ball came back off the bar.

“By the time we scored the second, third and fourth, we were in dreamland - for the fourth goal, what a ball in from Anthony Kane and Jonny Frazer working so hard to get there.

“Darren Henderson, maybe a couple of weeks ago, would have turned inside but he had the confidence to go on his left foot.

“My man of the match might not have scored the prettiest goal but Kyle McVey, I thought, was absolutely extraordinary.

“We were right down to the bare bones - Johnny Taylor was away with his good lady who is expecting a baby and Gary Thompson was injured - but I had said to the players when opportunities arise, you’ve got to be ready to step in and we brought Darren back in and rearranged the shape of the team a wee bit and we brought Patrick McNally in and he was outstanding.

“We’re now trying to get that little bit of competition for places and there was a hunger and desire today.

“Probably the only disappointing thing - and it’s not being churlish in any way - I told the players I’m not accepting the fact that two goals were scored against us.

“If we are to get to where we want to be then we have to make sure we can stop goals like that - defensively we should have done better, particularly the second one.

“That’s not even a negative, it’s a learning point for the players.

“When you look at the support we had today, my goodness gracious me, I couldn’t believe the number of our fans who were there today.

“What really pleased me was that one of our young Academy teams were there. We’re trying to build something and the supporters have helped us tremendously again today - the backing we got was first class,” added Jeffrey.

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