Crown the King

COLERAINE manager Rodney McAree was pleased to see his players pick up all three points from their Easter Tuesday clash against Crusaders…

The Bannsiders secured their first win in six outings as a hat-trick from Jamie McGonigle, as well as Jamie Glackin’s first goal for the club sealed success against Stephen Baxter’s side.

McAree made four changes to the team that was defeated against Ballymena United last weekend, and he was full of praise for the contribution of defensive duo Graham Crown and Dylan King.

“It was a much better performance this evening and it was enjoyable,” he said.

“I thought we had much more mobility about us and changes were made but I thought Graham Crown and Dylan King done extremely well.

“Dylan’s confidence has taken a bit of a dent recently and Graham hasn’t played much football, but I thought the two of them were very good.

“I was a little concerned when I had Ben Doherty and Jamie Glackin in the middle of the park but the two of them had plenty of energy and they provided ammunition for everyone else.

“Jamie McGonigle scored a terrific hat trick and it was great to see as he hasn’t scored as many goals as he would have liked to recently and I think he was superb along with James McLaughlin and Eoin Bradley when he came on.”

The Stripes have failed to be prolific in front of goal this season but McAree insists that his players will ‘keep working’ to address this issue.

“We haven’t scored enough goals this season,” he confessed.

“If you combine scoring goals along with keeping clean sheets, then you win matches and we are maybe conceding a few too many goals.

“There are areas we can get better at so we have to keep working at it.”

McAree was surprised to learn that McGonigle’s hat-trick was his first in senior football, with the boss also delighted to see Jamie Glackin score his first goal since arriving in the January transfer window.

“It was a great finish from Glacks,” he joked.

“I thought his overall performance deserved a goal so it was nice for him.

“I’m sure he will take the goal whatever way it comes.

“People will point the finger at the goalkeeper for Jamie’s third, but he hit the free-kick nicely and it bounced right in front of the goalkeeper which makes it difficult for him.

“It surprises me that this was his first hat-trick but I’m delighted for him and hopefully there will be more.”