Boss pleased with display

GLENAVON boss Gary Hamilton was pleased with his side’s display despite their 3-0 defeat at the hands of English Championship side Millwall at Mourneview Park on Saturday.

Even with such a convincing score-line, the home side had matched their professional opponents for long spells, but ultimately the class of Lions striker John Marquius and a thunderbolt from youngster Conor Wilkinson proved the difference between the teams.

“I thought the boys came away with a lot of credit,” said Hamilton.

“Obviously the second goal was a bit of a mix up between Marc Brown and Davy O’Hare but until then we were well in the game.

“Their fitness and full-time training showed towards the end of the game when we put a few of our younger lads on but overall, I thought we did ourselves proud. Kenny Jackett was very impressed with us after the game.

“He couldn’t believe how well we played considering the wages that we pay. He thought the boys were very good and it’s a credit to them all. We passed the ball about brilliantly and we weren’t panicking and kicking it long.

“That’s something that we’ve tried to bring in during training. We’ve worked on pressing the ball and passing it and I think it’s probably been a while since that sort of football has been played at Mourneview Park.

“We treated it more as a training session because it’s going to be very tough to beat a Championship team. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it and the harder we worked to get the ball back off them on Saturday, the better it will be for our long term fitness. I thought our work-rate and effort was great.”

The boss was also full of praise for the visitors, who played the game free of charge, a rarity for such high-profile opposition.

“I thought Millwall were a different class,” he said.

“The players are technically better on the ball, fitter and stronger and that all comes form full-time training. For example, Ciaran Doherty didn’t look out of place on the pitch tactically but those players are training every day, getting the right diet and the right rest.

“They’re a good side and it would be nice to see them do well. It’s good to see clubs coming over here and doing us a good turn.”

Before any of the real action could start, referee Gareth Eakin stole the attention as he went down injured and had to be replaced by linesman Eamon Shanks on just 12 minutes.

After things managed to settle down, Glenavon at least looked eager to play a brand of passing football but, in the first half, had struggled to cause Millwall’s stout defence, well marshalled by Karleigh Osbourne, any real problems.

At the other end, Andy Coleman had to be alert to hold off the visitors, saving from Alan Dunne early on before he was really tested by Marqiuis’ venomous dipping half-volley which he did well to punch over the crossbar. However, just after the half-hour mark, the talented 20 year-old did bag his first goal of the afternoon as he latched on to a neat through ball from impressive midfielder Chris Taylor before keeping cool to finish under Coleman.