Marc Walsh’s second-half strike, set up by Ryan Mayse, secured a valuable three points at the Limavady Showgrounds and capped a demanding week for the Mallards, who played three matches in six days.

Having needed 21 games to record six league victories last season, Ballinamallard have reached that landmark in just 13 outings this term, with Stafford delighted by the resilience his players are showing.

“It is a wee carrot for the players,” he said of moving into the top four.

“We didn’t speak about it before the game, but I think everybody knew we could get to fourth if we got a result and I was really pleased, especially because of the week we have had.

"We had a game Saturday, then 120 minutes on Tuesday, and then away from home on a Friday night.

"A draw, a penalty shoot-out defeat and a win, with some really good performances.

"It was pleasing.”

The victory was all the more impressive given the physical demands placed on the squad and the growing injury list facing Stafford.

The Mallards boss fears Danny Barker could be sidelined for a spell after suffering a hamstring injury, while Niall Owens was forced off after picking up another problem.

They join Alex Holder, Tiarnan Campbell, Caolan Donnelly, Ross Taheny, Josh McIlwaine and Ronan Hutchins on the injury list, leaving Stafford to reshuffle his side during the closing stages against Strabane.

“We have a lot of injury problems now,” he admitted.

“We ended up with Aaron Arkinson playing central midfield, Callum Moorehead at right-back, Ryan Morris at left midfield and Darragh Byrne was up front.

That is what we finished the game with for the last 20 minutes, but everybody dug in.

It took a lot out of the players but hopefully after a long weekend and some rest and recovery, it will get some of them back on their feet again.”

Despite those difficulties, Stafford believes the character developing within the changing room is making a significant difference to Ballinamallard’s performances.

“I think there is a different mentality in the changing room now,” he explained.

“We have been behind in a lot of the games that we have won.

"We are looking physically stronger, and we look as if we could cope when we are under pressure.

"We don’t mind defending deep and we don’t panic.

"When we do face a bit of adversity, we are showing a lot of resilience, and we know we can score goals if we do go behind.

"We have goals all through the team.

"Long may it continue.”

Stafford has not forgotten the struggles of last season, when the Mallards endured a run of only one win in fifteen games, but he believes the experience has helped strengthen the group.

“Last season the players were in the mire.

They didn’t win a game for over two months last year, but they stuck together and stuck at it, and it is important now we keep working together and get more success.”

Friday’s contest had a derby feel about it, with both clubs familiar with players and members of the coaching staff on the opposite side.

Strabane made the brighter start and forced Ballinamallard to defend resolutely, with the visitors clearing a header off the line from a corner.

However Stafford was encouraged by his side’s defensive organisation despite an unconvincing first-half display, and challenged his players to raise their level after the interval.

“I got them in at half-time and said that if we played well for 15 minutes we could open this team up,” he said.

“We really lit it up at the start of the second half.

Maysey and Walshy and Jamie Johnston down that left side turned it on for 10 or 15 minutes and they were really good.

They got in behind them with good balls three or four times, and then the goal came.”

The decisive moment showcased the quality and awareness Stafford believes Mayse brings to the side since returning to the club during the summer.

Although the attacker is still waiting for his first goal since his return, his contribution to Walsh’s winner underlined his influence in tight matches.

“It was a bit of quality from Maysey,” said Stafford.

“He wins a free-kick out on the byline and gets up and Walshy is on the same page and he plays him in, and it’s a really good finish into the bottom corner.

Those lads, instead of switching off like some of the lads on the pitch did, they can get to another level and that difference was the goal.

You can’t go to sleep when people like Maysey are on the pitch.

It is the second time he did that.

He took a quick throw-in for Danny Barker against Dundela in a 2-1 win, and those are very important moments in games that are tight.

To have that quality and game intelligence is brilliant.”

Ballinamallard now turn their attention to Saturday’s home fixture against Armagh City at Ferney Park, where Stafford knows his side cannot afford to become complacent against the Championship’s bottom club.

Armagh have yet to win a league game this season, drawing six and losing seven of their 13 outings, but Stafford has been impressed by their competitiveness.

“I watched their game on Saturday against Ards.

"They drew that game and I know the wind spoiled the game a bit, but Armagh are competing in all the games they play.

"They are a decent side with good players and they will win a game sometime.

"We just have to make sure it is not us on Saturday.

"We need to be sure we are bang at it.”