Jackson Nesbitt proves lower league stars can make leap: Gary Hamilton

Glenavon 1 Ballymena United 0

Calum Birney celebrates his winning goal against Ballymena United with his Glenavon team-mates

Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton reserved praise for Jackson Nesbitt after the win over Ballymena

Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton was impressed by the performance of loanee arrival Jamie McDonagh

Gary Hamilton is prepared to dig for hidden treasure at lower levels as he endeavours to improve his Glenavon squad.

After a frustrating summer-long search for new faces, two factors have changed Hamilton’s thinking in terms of recruitment – the wage demands of players he feels ‘aren’t worth it’ and the performance of debutant Jackson Nesbitt as Glenavon beat Ballymena United 1-0 to claim a first Sports Direct Premiership win of the season.

Calum Birney’s fourth-minute header was enough to secure the points, but it was Nesbitt who Hamilton praised the highest.

The 23-year-old striker was making his first start after less than 90 minutes of senior football since his summer move from Mid Ulster League outfit Bourneview Mill, where he had been a regular goalscorer for the last five seasons.

Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton reserved praise for Jackson Nesbitt after the win over Ballymena

It was only four years ago that Lee Bonis stepped up from the same level and, since then, he has moved from Portadown to Larne for £100,000 and earned a Northern Ireland call-up from Michael O’Neill.

“I’ll be honest, in 11 and a half years, I haven’t gone into that market. This is the first season that I have done it,” said Hamilton.

“We’ve got Tiarnan Mulvenna (ex-Crewe United), who has done really well for us, it was Jackson’s first start and I thought he was excellent.

“I genuinely thought he was the best player on the pitch