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WONDER GOAL BUT NO POINTS

As Terry Cochrane took charge for his first home game he fielded new signings striker Nathan Jameson and left back Mark Turkington with midfielder Ciaran Donnelly starting from the bench. Hugh Dickson's clearance from the Scottish FA is not yet through so he will have to wait until next week for his opportunity. With Gavin McDonnell still suspended and Jonny Cowan released it proved to be defensive errors that ultimately saw Glenavon slip to yet another home defeat.

Terry Cochrane’s first game in charge at Mourneview Park got off to the ideal start in Glenavon’s first attack. His first signing Nathan Jameson won the ball in a challenge on the edge of the box against Corrigan and it broke to Molloy who spotted McMahon at the back post and picked him out with a perfect cross that McMahon netted with a diving header.

The lead lasted less than two minutes though as Glenavon failed to clear a free kick outside the left side of the box and the ball found its way across to Hamilton. He fired in a low cross to the near post that Larne’s recent signing Noel Anderson flicked brilliantly past Murphy. The drama continued apace with Paul Walsh threading a great through ball to release Molloy one-on-one with the keeper but his attempt to flick it past Keenan was thwarted as the keeper got fingertips to the ball.

Molloy had a 29th minute shot saved by Keenan, though the striker could have done better, and Jameson’s header from the rebound was saved brilliantly on the line by the Larne keeper, Ross Black completing the clearance.

Molloy had another great chance in the 35th minute when McKerr carried the ball out of defence and his through ball found both Jameson and Molloy onside but with only the keeper to beat the two players seemed to hesitate and this gave Hamilton the chance to get back and he made a great tackle to dispossess Molloy as he was about to shoot.

In the final minute of the half Bertie Fulton had a good chance to put his side in front when Glenn Hand played him in but he shot weakly straight at Tuda Murphy when clean through.

Eamon Murray replaced Paul Walsh at the start of the second half, Walsh having picked up a knock in a late challenge by Cleary in the first half. A moment of madness in the 53rd minute by Michael McKerr when he pulled Fulton to the ground when there seemed no danger near the bye line saw him concede a penalty which Aaron Black slotted past Murphy.

McMahon’s 25 yard snap shot on the hour mark was well tipped over by Keenan as Glenavon pressed for an equaliser but the visitors went further ahead when another McKerr error saw him take a touch in his own box when he should have cleared his lines and the ball broke to Hand whose neat turn and shot into the bottom corner left Murphy with no chance. McMahon had a glorious chance to pull a goal back in the 74th minute when a mistake by Lagan gifted him a chance from the edge of the box. He seemed to do everything right when he beat Keenan with a low shot but it struck the inside of the far post and somehow spun across the goal line and away to safety.

Molloy scored a contender for the goal of the season to give Glenavon hope twelve minutes from time when McMahon rolled a short free kick to him from the edge of the ‘D’ and he flicked the ball up in the air before volleying a tremendous shot into the top right corner. In the end it wasn’t enough to maintain Cochrane’s short unbeaten run and break a poor sequence of results at home for Glenavon that sees them without a League win since November.

Post-match with TC

Terry Cochrane expresses frustration during his first home game in charge of Glenavon.

Terry Cochrane was looking to take the positives out of the game in his post-match interview. "It wasn't a bad performance. I'm gutted that we got beaten but at least we went out a little bit on our shield and that's the thing about Glenavon that we want them to do.

"I thought we started off well but our own defensive mistakes let them into the game. The penalty changed the game but we responded well and all in all we played reasonably well in the last 30 minutes and the two new signings fitted in well so I'm quite happy at that.

"The centre half was suspended and we've got another centre half flying in next week so we'll be looking to put them in. In one sense it wasn't a bad thing but we've got to make sure these defensive mistakes are cleaned up.

"There's a big job here but I think you've seen an improvement in Glenavon today. In the second half we took the game to Larne and were the better team in the last half hour. I've got to be a little more upbeat about it because at least we didn't capitulate. They came back and stood strong. With a couple of finishes, Gerard McMahon has hit the post, we could have been 3-all but that's football.

"We might have a few more coming in. We're going to have a look at it next week and see what happens. I think we're on the right lines and that's the main thing. We've got to the end of the season to repair the damage and then push on from next season. There's improvement in the team. They  have got to keep their heads up; the young lads have got to be brought in and kept going; keep giving them confidence to go out there. It's all about the experience and I'm looking at them for next season as well."