“We have to get on with it” – OK

COLERAINE boss Oran Kearney admits he was left disappointed at the manner of the two goals his side conceded at Solitude last night…

The Bannsiders would leave North Belfast empty handed as efforts from Joe Gormley and an own goal from Stephen O’Donnell edged all three points to Paddy McLaughlin’s side, despite a late response from Aaron Traynor.

Kearney remarked that his side made a sluggish start but improved after the break as they failed to take numerous chances before Gormley’s 79th minute opener.

“It was a very different and crazy night,” he said.

“From our performance levels last Friday night against Larne, we didn’t get out of the traps and Cliftonville did.

“They upped their game from last Saturday against Carrick Rangers and got out of the traps well but I thought we made life hard for ourselves in the opening 20 minutes which helped them to get up and running.

“It took a change which we don’t like doing for us to get a stranglehold in the game and back into it and I thought we did that as the half progressed.

“The second-half we looked more like ourselves and the game ebbed and flowed where it looked like there would be goals coming but you just didn’t know at which end.

“We had a couple of opportunities and Gareth has pulled off a few great saves but we are disappointed with the manner of the two goals.

“Whilst it was a good cross by Jamie McDonagh for the first goal, we should be doing more to stop that cross from going in and the ball is in the air for a long time as well, so I think we should have also dealt with the one-on-one situation better.

“The second one is inexcusable. I’m Aaron Traynor’s biggest fan, he has been so good for us and there have been so many points on the board he has earned for us, but the little lapse in concentration for that goal is unacceptable and he knows that.”

In a similar fashion to the defeat against Larne, the Stripes would concede after their best period of the game but Kearney has challenged his players to pick up as many points on the road before making a return to The Showgrounds.

“We were stung with momentum on Friday night and the same here again,” he stated.

“We probably have our best spell of the game and then we concede a goal which is frustrating and disappointing.

“It’s not easy, we have had two tough away games at Larne and Cliftonville, and we just have to dust ourselves down and try and go again.

“Its early days and we are in a different scenario because every team has had a home and away game, but we’ve had two tough fixtures never mind those being away.

“We know we will get a run of home fixtures and the big hope is to pick up as many points as we can on the road, so when we get at home, we can make a real charge at it and try and climb.

“It’s frustrating we have no points to show for our opening two games, there have been some positives and some negatives as well, but we have to get on with it.”