Perfect start ends in defeat for Glenavon

The 1-0 success at Windsor Park presented Glenavon with a welcome bonus - but Saturday’s road trip proved an afternoon of disappointment.

The absence of Kris Lindsay due to suspension handed Paddy McNally a spot in the starting line-up and left Shane McCabe with the captain’s armband.

Injury issues left Kyle Neill, Eoin Bradley, Rhys Marshall and Ciaran Martyn on the substitutes’ bench rather than the starting line-up.

Glenavon enjoyed an ideal start thanks to Andy McGrory’s measured chip over Michael Doherty after a slick pass by Andy Kilmartin.

The Lurgan Blues failed to build on this early advantage after eight minutes.

The next goal was scored by the hosts as Coleraine levelled on 23 minutes courtesy of a long-range strike from Neil McCafferty that enjoyed the benefit of a deflection.

Alan Blayney proved alert to save Gary Browne’s header and effort off the rebound. Other sights of goal were carved out for Coleraine’s Ian Parkhill and Shane McGinty but blocked by Glenavon.

Darren Forsyth, a recent addition to the Glenavon books, attacked along the flank then cut the ball back across the danger area for Ciaran Caldwell to feed McNally. However, the defender’s attempt nestled in the gloves of Doherty.

Browne tested Blayney again early in the second half but, within seconds, a penalty kick turned the tables and left Coleraine on top as McCafferty doubled his afternoon’s tally.

Hamilton turned to Bradley and Martyn to bolster Glenavon’s attack for the closing half-hour spell, with the Glenavon player/manager also steering an overhead kick just past the post.

Bradley was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity as Glenavon worked an opening for Bradley but his hesitation presented Adam Mullan an opportunity to block.

“The hardest thing about being a manager is working out how you can produce a performance like we did at Windsor then follow it up with a performance like that,” said Glenavon player/manager Hamilton. “At the end of 90 minutes you usually get what you deserve and we got that today.”

COLERAINE: Michael Doherty, Steven Douglas, David Ogilby, Neil McCafferty, Gary Browne, Aaron Canning, Ruairi Harkin, Shane McGinty, Adam Mullan, Darren McCauley, Ian Parkhill. Subs: Michael Hegarty (on for McCauley, 80 mins), Mark Miskimmin (on for Parkhill, 90 mins), Johnny Watt, Lyndon Kane, Brad Lyons.

GLENAVON: Alan Blayney, Gareth McKeown, Conor Dillon, Paddy McNally, James Singleton, Ciaran Caldwell, Andy Kilmartin, Shane McCabe, Andy McGrory, Darren Forsyth, Kevin Braniff. Subs: Ciaran Martyn (on for Kilmartin, 63 mins), Eoin Bradley (on for Forsyth, 63 mins), Gary Hamilton (on for Braniff, 73 mins), Kyle Neill, Rhys Marshall.

Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown).