Every second counts for Glenavon as one moment decisive but Irish League boss more concerned with 'too slow' timing
One split-second moment may have defined Glenavon’s loss to Bangor for boss Michael O’Connor but his big-picture frustration centred on timing “too slow”.
After Jack Malone’s close-range finish handed control to the Lurgan Blues, a penalty allowed Ben Arthurs to level off the spot – awarded against goalkeeper Mark Byrne as he attacked a cross along with Bangor’s Michael Morgan.
Arthurs then headed home to turn the tables and set Bangor on the path to a 2-1 success.
O’Connor was adamant Byrne “punched the ball away”.
"I've seen it on video five times, I've seen the stills of it...he's made contact first,” said O’Connor. "He's given a penalty...so we need to get on with it.
"It changes the whole dynamic of the game."
Outside of that decision, the Glenavon manager finished disappointed at his players’ inability to turn pressure into an end product.
"The second half...really good, we had the territory but just didn't create enough,” said O’Connor. "When teams step off and let you have the ball, you still need to try and pass the ball forward.
"I thought at times it was too slow of a play.
"We didn't get the ball wide, didn't get the crosses in the box (and) just didn't have someone get on the end of something.
"The boys are giving me everything they have, I honestly can't ask for any more.
"It's just one of those things where we're low on numbers.
"We got some balls in the box but weren't just getting across our men, they were getting the ball or picking up on the edge of the box, we were making the wrong decision, too safe at times.
"So we stuck 'Murph' (Harry Murphy) up top the last six or seven minutes to try and get the ball up to him.
"They done numbers on us today."
O’Connor highlighted the early exit of playmaker Peter Campbell following injury as disruptive to early encouragement.
"We started really brightly in the first 15 minutes then got the goal,” he said. "Then obviously you lose Peter Campbell, a real attacking threat.
"I was able to play with Peter and Corey (Smith) as two high wingers.
"Josh Kee comes on (for Campbell) and his natural game is to come inside.
"We didn't get Jack (Malone) on the ball as much.”