BJ Banda and Finn Harps aiming to turn the tide away to Wexford 

BJ Banda admits that Finn Harps’ hopes of making the First Division play-offs have taken a real hit these past few weeks. 

Back at the tail-end of July Harps followed up an away win in Kerry with a battling home share of the spoils against runaway leaders Galway United. 

With a host of new signings involved there, it looked like the Ballybofey outfit was gearing up for a real crack at a top-five finish and a coveted play-off spot. 

However, the wheels have once again wobbled on Dave Rogers’ outfit and three consecutive league losses since means they are now nine points adrift of fifth spot. 

Coincidently enough, Friday night’s opponents Wexford currently occupy that berth. And with Harps on the road on Friday night striker Banda says his side simply need to address their recent slide. 

Last time out, Harpws went down 1-0 at home to Longford Town on what was another disappointing night on Navenny Street. 

“It was one of those games where whoever got the first goal was probably going to win it,” Banda explained. “We still had chances - but it just didn’t fall for us on the night. 

“That’s kind of been the story since the Galway game.  We’d a great start after the new faces came in back in June. But for whatever reason, it’s just not clicking right now and that’s really frustrating. 

“When it’s like that, you’re maybe trying to force it that little bit harder. And that sometimes can make it even worse. We just need to be calm as we have seen that we can match teams when we click”. 

Banda recently rejoined the club for a second spell but without a pre-season under his belt he admits it’s taking longer than he anticipated to get back up to speed. 

“I’m still getting there. When I first came in I probably underestimated the league and intensity of it. You do really need to have that full pre-season under the belt. At the minute, I’m still playing catch-up. You just have to dig in and grind it out in that situation”.

In regards to their visit to Ferrycarrig Park, Banda said: “We are always hopeful on the road - it’s our home form that’s been hardest to understand. 

“We’ve been leaking easy goals at Finn Park. On the road, I don’t know what it is, but that’s where we’ve picked up most of our points. 

“I suppose this really is viewed as a building year. The chance to make the play-offs, I won’t necessarily say it’s completely gone but we have made it very difficult for ourselves now. But we have to just throw the kitchen sink at it now and see where it takes us. 

“There is real learning in this season for everyone and I think we’ll all be the better for it, longterm, with the direction the club want to move in”.