IRISH LEAGUE: Pages 52-53
GLENAVON boss Gary Hamilton hailed a slick performance from his side as Coleraine were thrashed 4-0 in front of the BBC cameras at Mourneview Park last night.
A first-half double from Andrew Mitchell along with further goals from Mark Sykes and substitute Jordan Jenkins crushed a Bannsiders team labelled an “absolute disgrace” by their manag- er Rodney McAree. It could be one of Sykes’ last performances in a Lurgan Blues jersey, with a move to Port Vale on the horizon, and he played his part a ruthless attacking display.
“It was a good performance — both with and against the wind,” said Hamilton.
“We pressed the ball well and passed well but the most pleasing thing for me was the defence.
“We haven’t been marking well enough but the defenders were brilliant tonight and Jonny Tuffey also made a great save.”
Two-goal hero Mitchell added: “We have good wide men who can deliver chances and thankfully I was able to take them.”
McAree moaned: “I thought we were good in the first 25 minutes but after that it was an absolute disgrace as a collective.
“We look like a squad of individuals rather than a united team and that’s not good enough.
“We’ve got to take opportunities when we create them. We conceded two poor goals in the first half and in the second half too many players threw in the towel. There was no hunger or desire to get back into the game.”
The result takes the thirdplaced Lurgan Blues to within three points of leaders Ballymena United.