Jeffrey targeting Warrenpoint win to keep top six ambitions alive

DAVID Jeffrey has urged his Ballymena United players to channel their Irish Cup disappointment into a strong finish to the season.

Tuesday night’s cup exit at the hands of Larne put an end to any hopes of silverware at the Braid this season but Jeffrey is determined that the Sky Blues’ campaign won’t simply peter out.

“I don’t make a practice of criticising players in public but I felt bitterly let down by the Larne defeat and desperately disappointed for our supporters,” said Jeffrey (below).

“We had prepared to the nth degree for the Larne game and we were in total control of the game.”

Ballymena , who entertain Warrenpoint Town today, still have a backlog of league fixtures to catch up on and Jeffrey has set his players new challenges.

“Now’s the time, from here to the end of the season, can we get into that top six position? Can we battle to get into seventh to get a chance at Europe in the play-off or where are we at?

“We always knew the second year was going to be tough and injuries have made this a most difficult situation — it’s been the worst run of injuries I’ve seen in 20 years.

“I have said very clearly that this is a journey and who stays on ultimately the players make that decision by their level of performance,” added Jeffrey.