United won’t throw in the towel - Ferguson

GLENN Ferguson has insisted that his Ballymena United players won’t simply go through the motions in their remaining games of the season.
Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson.Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson.
Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson.

Saturday’s scoreless draw against Glentoran ensured that the Sky Blues will finish in the bottom half of the Danske Bank Premiership season for the fifth successive season - and with Ballymena some distance clear of the relegation scrap, the remaining seven games of United’s season will have little relevance.

The first of those is at Portadown this Saturday (3pm) and Ferguson says he wants his players to finish the season strongly.

“It will probably be a time now for us to get a look at some players just to see if they’re up to scratch and to see if they have the desire to have the same attitude as the coaching staff do,” said Ferguson.

“But at the same time we will be trying to pick up as many points as we can – it not as if we’ve just thrown in the towel because we’re not going to be in the top six.

“We want to accumulate as many points as possible, right to the very last game.

“The players have got to go with confidence, put in the same sort of battling display as Saturday and if any chances come their way, take them.

“I have told the players the shackles are off – there is no pressure on us whatsoever so just go out and enjoy it and try to get decent results and play some positive football.”

David Cushley misses the trip to Shamrock Park through suspension after his red card on Saturday but Ferguson hopes to have other players available.

“Shane Dolan had a slight groin strain before Saturday’s game and if he had played on that pitch, he would have pulled the groin out of himself so we thought it was best not to play him.

“Mark McCullagh came off with double vision after getting a finger in his eye and he had a wee nick around his eye so he was going to get that checked out.”

* Paramount Supporters’ Club holds its monthly table quiz in the Bowling Club this Friday night (8.30pm).

* Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport for Saturday’s game at Portadown leaves Henry Street car park at 1.30pm.