How teams react in the face of adversity is a key measure for separating with potential to those who are the real deal, but Loughgall are passing that test.
Last month, Dean Smith’s side had points deducted from the draws against Dundela and Dergview alongside their win at Annagh, with all of their opponents being awarded three points for those fixtures – which crucially, gave a six-point swing to promotion rivals Annagh.
Furthermore, the Mid Ulster club were hit by a £300 fine.
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Loughgall are unbeaten in their five league games since and have just completed a tremendous week in which wins over promotion rivals Newry and Ballinamallard followed a draw at Annagh.
In-form striker Nathaniel Ferris explained to Match on Tuesday: “We knew at that point that we could either fold here and now or we could respond to it.
“It would now be an incredible story if we get finish in those promotion places after having those points deducted and it is something that motivates us.
“You can either let that get to you and deflate you entirely or use it the opposite direction and we have done that.
“Plenty of teams would have folded and plenty of players would have folded but that was not going to happen to us.”
Ferris had been one of the Championship’s deadliest strikers prior to Covid but did not play this season until mid-November after a year on the sidelines with recurring injuries.
He has been hitting top form in recent weeks, netting twice in the win at H&W Welders before finding the net in the victories over Newry and Ballinamallard.
“With each game that goes by I have been feeling better and feeling fitter,” he added.
“My job for the team is to lead the line and to score goals, which is obviously something that gives you that confidence too.
“As a striker you get the headlines when you are winning the games but it is about everyone else behind you in that team doing their jobs.”
And everyone else in Loughgall’s side deserves plenty of credit too – with three games in seven days against the top three teams in the Championship, the Villagers did not concede any goals.
“The defensive shape of the team between the back four and midfield is something we work so hard on, while we defend as a team from the front,” continued the former Portadown striker.
“We work as a team and as a unit and each game we concede so few chances to the opposition that it gives us strikers the opportunity to make a difference with the results.
“The team is so united despite the setbacks we have had this season. We have moved past them and are entirely together.
“We are not worried about any other side’s results because we know that if we play to our potential then we will win our games and achieve our targets.”
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