Ace Glackin is on my radar, admits McAree
COLERAINE registered their first win in four matches as Jamie McGonigle’s second-half header was enough to defeat Ards at The Showgrounds.
In truth, the Bannsiders should have been out of sight at the break as Darren McCauley, Eoin Bradley, McGonigle and Josh Carson all squandered chances against the basement side.
The match-winning strike finally arrived on 53 minutes as McGonigle was alert to steer in from close range for his seventh goal of the season.
Bannsiders boss Rodney McAree admitted he was glad to return to winning ways and hopes to make Jamie Glackin his first signing since taking charge.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us in terms of results and we asked for more hard work and we certainly got that,” he said. “We could easily have won the game by more than one goal but after the last two performances, we would have accepted a 1-0 win.
“I would be interested in Jamie and I would like to bring him to Coleraine. He’s the type of quality player that I’d like to target and there are others who I’m very interested in.”
His counterpart Colin Nixon cut a frustrated figure as his goal-shy Ards side never looked like scoring.
“It’s another game where we don’t score, and if you don’t score you’re not going to win matches,” said Nixon.
“That’s been our problem all season, we haven’t scored enough goals and that’s why we are where we are.
“I just said to the boys in there that we’re at the halfway stage and I genuinely believe we need some fresh blood that is going to get us some goals.
“I will be targeting any player who I think suits our club and can get us goals.
“The situation with Darren has unravelled for us as a club, but it is what it is.”
COLERAINE: Johns, Kane (Crown 84), Harkin, Douglas, McCauley, Lowry, E. Bradley, Carson, McConaghie, McGonigle, Canning. Subs Not Used: Doherty (GK), McLaughlin, Burns, Gawne, Whiteside, J. Bradley. ARDS: Johnston, Kerr, E. McAllister (McArthur 72), Byers, Cherry, McLellan, D. McAllister, Mitchell (M. Kelly 65), Tommons, McClean (J. Kelly 61), McAleenan. Subs Not Used: Mooney (GK), Elebert, McKenna, Strain.
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)
Man of the Match: Aaron Canning
Match Rating: 6/10