We must take confidence from cup success

WE got off to a flyer but then we made hard work of it and we didn’t really hurt them too much for the rest of the first half.

It was a scrappy goal that we conceded just before half time. It was a hammer blow to us and obviously a big, big lift to the Welders. I wasn’t concerned at that stage and at half-time it was doom and gloom for Glenavon.

When we came out after half-time, the quick goal settled us down and was quickly followed by the third which was game ball. I thought we played quite well in the second half then and scored the four goals whilst creating seven or eight chances. It’s a good percentage of returns anyway, scoring four in a half and it was very pleasing.

I liked the way we started playing and I thought Barry Johnston came into his own more in the second half and started pulling the strings for us. Barry’s game is all about picking up the loose ball and playing it nice and simple which he does very well and I was delighted with his performance on his debut. It was a big plus for us.

I think we can take a lot from the game in our state. We can take a lot of confidence with Tony Grant, Trevor Molloy, Conor Walsh and Stuart King all getting their names back on the scoresheet. I’m very pleased with it.

Tony’s first goal was a typical goal from him. He got the ball and was hard to dispossess and stuck it away well. It was an excellent goal and I’ve seen Tony scoring them like that on many occasions.

We made a couple of tough decisions with our team selection but we went positively with Stuart King and Eamon Murray on the wings and we tried to get a few balls into the box.

I didn’t include Hugh Davey because of a lack of fitness but there’s maybe a change possible there as I feel there’s room for improvement in the team from Saturday’s performance. A few people need to do better than that but at the same time we won a cup game 5-1 so I’m pleased with that.

As I say, we have to take confidence from the win and hopefully that can kick start our league campaign again. I’m pleased to be through after a banana-skin type game. As I said to the players on Thursday night before the game, there was going to be an upset somewhere and we just had to make sure it wasn’t at Mourneview Park.