GLENAVON DEFEATS NEWINGTON IN FIVE-GOAL THRILLER 3d1z4z

Newington 2 Glenavon 3 1q172u

BetMcLean Cup, 1st Round x5y2v

Inver Park, Larne

Tuesday 1^st October 2024

Substitute David McDaid spared Glenavon’s blushes with an 86^th minute goal to book a place in the BetMcLean Cup second round draw.

Niall Quinn (29 mins) and Michael O’Connor (49 mins) put the Lurgan men 2-0 ahead. However, substitutes Gerard Storey (75 mins) and Robbie Morrow (85 mins) replied for the Championship club.

Glenavon dominated the match for 65 minutes but missed a hatful of clear-cut scoring chances. Then poor defending allowed the Belfast men back into the contest.

Quinn put the visitors ahead with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area. However, Keith Ward ought to have scored twice either side of the goal. First, he capitalised on a defensive blunder but shot straight at Dean Smyth. Then, he collected an incisive by Jamie Doran but fired wide with the keeper stranded.

Michael O’Connor extended Glenavon’s lead early in the second half. Ward crossed for Atherton to skilfully trap the ball and pick out his team-mate with a perfectly weighted . The striker scored from barely two yards out.

Then the Lurgan men conspired to miss a plethora of chances. Twice James Carroll headed wide at the far post from Keith Ward corners. The former Loughgall man compounded the felony by heading straight at Dean Smyth from a third Ward cross.

Jamie Doran shot wide from the edge of the penalty area and had a further attempt saved.

Niall Quinn forced Smyth to move smartly to his left to save a well struck effort from 18 yards.

The visitors’ edifice began to crumble when Elijah Seymour capitalised on an error by Harry Lynch, rounded Deane but, from a difficult angle, shot narrowly wide.

Gerard Storey hit the post from distance and when the ball was cleared off the line by Len O’Sullivan, Jacobbi Tugman forced the Glenavon keeper to tip his follow-up effort over the crossbar.

Storey pulled a goal back with a well struck shot from 18 yards. Ten minutes later Robbie Morrow equalised after good work by Darren Stuart and Tugman.

Glenavon responded instantly. Paul McGovern attempted to control a long punt forward. When the ball broke to David McDaid, he turned sharply and shot into the far corner of the net.

NEWINGTON: Smyth, Gowdy, Donnelly, Downey. Murray, Parker, McGrandles, Duffy, McBride, O’Boyle, Seymour, SUBS: Brown (not used), Stuart for Murray (79 mins), Morrow for Downey (75 mins), Storey for Donnelly (60 mins), Reid (not used), Curran for Seymour (79 mins), Tugman for McBride (60 mins).

Yellow Cards: McGrandles (45’), Gowdy (73’).

GLENAVON: Deane, Marshall, Toure, Carroll, Lynch, Snoddy, Quinn, Ward, Atherton, O’Connor, Doran, SUBS: Byrne (not used), O’Sullivan for Marshall (60 mins), Malone for Snoddy (half-time), McDaid for O’Connor (60 mins), Doona (not used), McGovern for Quinn (60 mins), Wilson for Ward (72 mins).

Yellow Cards: Snoddy (45+3’), McDaid (68’).

REFEREE: Neil Robinson.