Gary Hamilton highlights Lee McNulty and Andrew Doyle defensive duo

Ballymena found the net in the closing moments but Glenavon picked up a 2-1 victory from which Hamilton was happy to highlight centre-backs Lee McNulty and Andrew Doyle within a ‘controlled’ team performance.

“Lee would have started his first game on Tuesday night probably against any other team bar Larne, a top side and a tough game after playing Cliftonville on the Saturday,” said Hamilton. “Today we felt we could afford to put him in after all week to train and he was outstanding, a credit for someone not having played in five months.

“It was great, too, for Lee to have Andrew Doyle beside him.

“Andrew is a great lad, we all know we will get 100 per cent and when mistakes might be made it’s never due to lack of commitment or effort.

“He is a great professional and, like Aaron Harmon, someone you know you can rely on even if not playing every week.

“I’m delighted, I thought we controlled the match from the first minute to the 90th, they only had a couple of efforts that I can remember.

“Conceding a goal at the death was the only disappointing thing...but we wanted three points and got them.

“The boys were very good - defensively sound, we controlled the midfield area and the two boys up front were a real handful.

“Our strikers did not get a goal they deserved but it was brilliant how they ran the channels alongside that overall work-rate and hold-up play.

“Plus our wingers were excellent too and the goalkeeper coming to take every cross.”

In a season disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Hamilton was pleased with his players’ response to the disjointed schedule.

“Over two or three weeks out you lose your match sharpness but we were the only team who went four weeks (without a game),” said Hamilton. “That was going to affect us but now, with a few more games and training sessions behind us, we look more like ourselves.

“It was a good all-round team performance and, thankfully, they got what they deserved as too often we’ve played like that and not this season.

“There have been performances just as good but today we got that rub of the green and won the game.

“We’ve always tried to build from the front, get the ball to the front men early, play off them, get it wide and play with high energy levels.”

GLENAVON: Hyland, Doyle, Purkis (J.Doyle, 75), Campbell, O’Connor, Fitzpatrick (Moorhouse, 89), McCloskey, Singleton, Garrett, Ward (Harmon, 56), McNulty.

Subs (not used): Byrne, Snoddy, O’Mahony, McCaffrey.

BALLYMENA UNITED: Williamson, T.Kane (McCready, 77), Redman, Addis, Winchester (Waide, 34), McElory, McCartan, Balmer (McGrory, 69), Hume, Keeley, Kelly.

Subs (not used): Glendinning, Ervin, Graham, Wylie.

Referee: Andrew Davey.

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