We lacked a ruthless touch, admits McAree
GLENAVON maintained their four-point gap on Coleraine as Niall Grace’s second half thunderbolt earned the visitors a share of the spoils at The Showgrounds.
The Bannsiders shaded the first half and took the lead on 20 minutes as Eoin Bradley converted from close range after Johnny Tuffey initially denied Jamie Glackin.
In a match played under a severe wind, the Lurgan Blues made a bright start to the second period and were rewarded on 50 minutes as Niall Grace curled a delightful effort into the top corner.
The visitors should have taken the lead on 63 minutes as Jordan Jenkins was twice denied by the excellent Chris Johns, before the Bannsiders rallied late on with Ben Doherty, Josh Carson and Aaron Canning coming close to snatching all three points.
“We’re slightly disappointed not to win the game,” said Coleraine boss Rodney McAree. “We probably didn’t do enough in the final third in the first half to work Johnny Tuffey.
“Our desire was very good, and obviously after the last two games against Glenavon it was important that we competed. In those other games we sort of threw the towel in and were over-run.
“There are a lot of positives for us to take out of it. You get it into your head that it’s going to be one of those days when you score late on to win the match.
“We were unlucky on several occasions near the end, it was disappointing we didn’t get the winner. But there are a lot of things we can take into the next game.”
Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton praised both sets of players for putting on an entertaining game in challenging conditions.
“I have to pay a massive compliment to both teams given the conditions here today,” he added.
“I’ve been coming here for 17 or 18 years in my career but that’s the worst conditions I’ve ever played in at The Showgrounds. I’m not saying it hasn’t been worse at any other stage, but that’s the worst I have ever seen it.
“The wind was absolutely horrendous and you don’t feel it as bad when you’re standing at the side compared to when you’re out there on the pitch.
“People were clearing the ball and it was going back over their head and out for a corner.”
He added: “We want to win every game, but it’s important that the teams in and around you don’t gain points on you.
“The draw means Coleraine didn’t gain any points on us, so from that point of view it’s good.” COLERAINE: Johns, Mullan (Douglas 82 mins), Lowry, E Bradley, Carson, McConaghie, Glackin, (Parkhill 82 mins), McGonigle, B Doherty, Edgar, Canning. Subs not used: M Doherty, O’Donnell, Owens, J Bradley, Moore.
GLENAVON: Tuffey, King, Marron, Grace, Daniels, Marshall, Hall (McCloskey 46 mins), Clingan, Murray, Singleton, Jenkins (Hamilton 71 mins). Subs not used: Donnelly, Harmon, Larmour, Norton, Sharkey. Referee: Ross Dunlop
Match Rating: 7/10
Man of the Match: Ben Doherty. Tight affair: James Singleton clashes with Jamie McGonigle BARRY Gray has asked his players not to be caught up in the doom and gloom of a horrific holiday hangover.
Cliftonville suffered five defeats on the spin over the holiday period, snuffing out their title hopes as well as heralding an early exit from the Irish Cup but, after stopping the rot with Saturday’s victory over Ards, Gray pointed out that it actually remains possible for the Reds to improve upon last season.
“Last year, we finished fifth and reached the Irish Cup Final but that doesn’t count for anything unless you win it, which I actually said at the time,” he reflected.
“So we finished fifth and qualified for Europe through the playoffs. Was that our target or where we wanted to be? No, absolutely not and nor are we happy with how this season has gone, but I’ve said to the players that we can still match that, or even improve upon it.
“We’re sixth at the minute and it’s actually still mathematically possible for us to qualify for Europe. Admittedly, that’s not very likely given the points difference we would have to make up, but it’s just an example of why we can’t afford to accept or believe that our season’s over.
“Yes, we can get caught up in our league challenge being finished and being out of the Irish Cup, but what’s the benefit? There are still matches to play and points to be won so, between now and the end of the season, the challenge is to win as many of them as possible.”
Gray’s charges got back to winning ways at the weekend when basement battlers Ards had their resistance broken during a dominant second-half display from the hosts. Pegged back just before the interval by a Darren Henderson penalty, the Reds — who had edged in front courtesy of Ryan Curran — saw Joe Gormley denied from the spot by Sam Johnston before Conor McMenamin’s firm finish restored Cliftonville’s lead.
Rory Donnelly made it 3-1 before teeing Gormley up to complete the scoring with a cool lob. CLIFTONVILLE: Brush, Harney, C Curran, Harkin, R Curran, R Donnelly, Bagnall, Gormley, Lavery, McMenamin, Gorman. Subs: McKenna, McGovern, Breen, Garrett (McMenamin, 79 mins), Catney (Bagnall, 75 mins), McConnell (Harkin, 83 mins), Maguire. ARDS: Johnston, E McAllister, Byers, Cherry, Tommons, McClean, Nelson, McAleenan, Evans, Smith, Henderson. Subs: Davidson, Kerr, Kelly (Henderson, 75 mins), McLellan, D McAllister (E McAllister, 71 mins), Bennett (Cherry, 71 mins), McCawl.
Referee: Arnold Hunter (Maguiresbridge) Man of match: Conor McMenamin
Match rating: 7/10.