Sykes inspires Lurgan Blues again

CATHAIR Friel notched up his 12th goal of the season on Saturday but the Ballymena United striker admitted it could and should have been much more.

Friel wasn’t the only culprit though as most of the Sky Blue team had chances to make it an easy day against bottom of the table Ballinamallard United.

Apart from Friel’s 57th minute close range finish from strike partner Jonathan McMurray’s cross, all they had to show for their enterprising attacking play was a 42nd minute penalty from the excellent Tony Kane.

When Mallards’ substitute Gary Armstrong netted in the 84th minute it made for a nervy ending and manager David Jeffrey made sure his players know about it, hopping up and down on the touchline.

“On another day it could have been 10, especially as myself and Johnny didn’t take our chances and their goal put a bit of pressure on us for the last 10 minutes,” said Friel.

“We’ve thrown leads away before, the boss was going mad because he knows we could have been three or four up.”

Jeffrey himself was happy that his side notched up the points to close to within one of Glentoran in sixth, but there could be extra finishing practice this week.

“The quality of the performance was first class. If someone was to give a mark it would be 9.5 but for finishing — 5.5,” he said.

For opposite number Gavin Dykes, the struggle continues, but he sees light at the end of the tunnel.“It’s getting better, we just have to try and hang in there until January, get bodies in,” he said. BALLYMENA: Glendinning, Ervin, McCullough (Shevlin, 87 mins), Owens, Balmer, T Kane, McCaffrey, McKinney, Friel, McMurray, McCloskey. Unused subs: McAlorum, E. Kane, Brennan, McNeill. BALLINAMALLARD: Brush, McConnell, Taheny, Smyth, McCann, Burns, Hutchinson, Leddy (Curran, 69 mins), McGinty, Martyn (Owens, 77 mins), McCartney (Armstrong, 77 mins). Unused subs: McLoughlin, McKenna.

Man of the match: Tony Kane

Match rating: 7/10

Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast) BOLTON Wanderers watched from the stands at the Bangor Fuels Arena as Glenavon’s teenage midfielder Mark Sykes produced another match-winning performance.

The English Championship club sent a scout to watch Glenavon take on Ards — and he couldn’t fail to have been impressed by Sykes, who delivered an assist and a stunning solo goalina2-0win.

Manager Gary Hamilton is well aware that professional clubs are keeping a close eye on his star man.

“Mark was fantastic,” he said. “We know a number of English clubs are looking at him and if he doesn’t go across the water in January, I’m sure he will in the summer. He is the best young player I have seen in the Irish League since I returned home.”

Sykes took advantage of a Dave Elebert error to supply Adam Foley with the crucial opener in the 78th minute, before scoring a sensational solo goal of his own shortly afterwards.

There were two red cards on the day, with Glenavon’s Andrew Doyle sent off by referee Keith Kennedy in the first half, while Ards defender Johnny Taylor received his marching orders in between the two goals.

Hamilton added: “Mark Sykes obviously set a goal up and scored himself, but our whole team were fantastic today, not just Mark.

“Every player on the pitch was fantastic. We were the better team at 11v11, 11v10 and 10v10. We were well in control of the game, unlike the referee who lost control of things. That’s the only reason the game played out how it did.

“Our players were a credit to themselves. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”