No excuse for making slow starts, says Hamilton

Dungannon Swifts 2 Glenavon 1

GARY Hamilton admits Glenavon’s players have had “harsh lessons” about the standards they need to reach this season.

A poor first half performance cost them as goals from Michael Carvill and Mark Patton put Dungannon Swifts in control.

And while they came back strongly late on, it was another frustrating afternoon for the Lurgan side.

Hamilton said: “Fair play to Dungannon because their hunger and desire in the first half won them the game today.

“As a manager, you want that from your players and we need to learn from it. We went to Cliftonville (in the second game) with no desire or hunger in the first half, and we end up 3-0 down.

“Today we did exactly the same. We didn’t start with the hunger and desire that we want at this club and that we try to demand, and we came in 2-0 down.

“That’s two harsh lessons for them and hopefully they will learn from it.”

The game changed in the 65th minute when Swifts’ Ally Teggart was red carded for a rash challenge on Jordan Jenkins, with Glenavon immediately pulling one back through Rhys Marshall.

The visitots pushed and pushed for an equaliser, but Dungannon held out.

Hamilton (below) admitted his players could have no excuses for their poor start.

“We warned them — we warn them all the time — we know what to expect when we come to Dungannon,” he added.

“They should know what to expect, because the boys have been here long enough.

“We know it’s always a difficult game, there is never an easy game here.

“The amount of times I’m coming in here down a goal or down two goals is unbelievable.

“It shouldn’t happen — the boys should know.”

With 10 points from their first four games, Dungannon have made their best start to a season for a decade.

They performed well in the first half, pressing Glenavon and moving the ball well.

Then, as the pressure mounted late in the game, their young defence stood strong.

Scorer Patton said: “We really had to graft for the three points. Even at 2-0, you knew they would come out the second half all guns blazing.”

DUNGANNON: Johnston, Coyle (Wilson, 20 mins), King, McGuinness, Teggart, Clucas, Smyth, Lowe, Patton, Carvill, Waide (Campbell, 76 mins). Unused subs: Addis, Taylor, McGinty, Harwood, Convie. GLENAVON: Tuffey, Marshall, Doyle, Marron (Harmon, 46 mins), Burns (Beggs, 78 mins), Garrett, Clingan, O’Mahony, Jenkins, Daniels, Mitchell (McCloskey, 72 mins). Unused subs: Hall, Ferguson, Taylor, Murray.

Referee: Ross Dunlop (Carrickfergus) Man of the Match: Mark Patton

Match Rating: 8/10