GLENAVON SCORES LATE WINNER IN MID-ULSTER DERBY 5d2k5o
Glenavon 2 Portadown 1 14m3z
Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e
Mourneview Park, Lurgan
Saturday 5th October 2024
A 90th minute goal by David McDaid earned Glenavon a dramatic 2-1 victory in the first Mid-Ulster derby of the season.
Ahu Obhakhan (36 mins) gave Portadown the lead. Jack Malone (58 mins) equalised for Stephen McDonnell’s men.
Although the victory was predicated on solid defending, the Lurgan Blues always endeavoured to play front foot football. They matched their opponents in the first half and were the better team for much of the second period.
Glenavon created the first opening in the fifth minute when Peter Campbell cleverly turned Lewis MacKinnon and delivered a low cross from the by-line. However, Steven McCullough made a vital interception with David McDaid waiting to tap the ball into the net.
In the 12th minute Portadown, in its first meaningful attack, tested Gareth Deane when Shay McCartan let fly from distance. The one-time Linfield and Coleraine custodian moved sharply to his right to push the ball round the post and out for a corner.
Less than 60 seconds later Obhakhan won an offensive header and Ryan Mayse blasted the ball over the crossbar from 12 yards with Deane in no man’s land.
Barney McKeown, a stand-out performer, set Peter Campbell free with a long forward . The Richhill man controlled the ball and shot from eight yards, but Carey made a fine save.
When Ryan Mayse launched a well struck effort from 18 yards, Gareth Deane was well positioned to catch the ball.
Glenavon threatened the Portadown goal from two free kicks in as many minutes. Jack Malone’s attempt from the first was handled on the edge of the penalty area. Niall Quinn’s shot following the second was blocked and cleared.
After winning an important tackle in his own half, Barney McKeown found David McDaid. The former Larne and Coleraine striker dribbled the ball into the penalty area, made space and shot from an acute angle. His effort was blocked by MacKinnon.
Portadown took the lead with its first dangerous cross of the half. McCullough released Mayse. The striker skipped past Harry Lynch and pulled the ball back from the by-line. Obhakhan got in front of Len O’Sullivan and shot past Deane from a few yards out.
Ironically, Obhakhan, booked earlier and subsequently involved in a tussle with Lynch, was about to be substituted.
Glenavon, playing with the wind in the second half, continued to probe for openings. The industrious Matthew Snoddy pulled the ball back, but Jack Malone shot over. Then substitute Keith Ward made an audacious attempt from distance but Carey gathered the ball comfortably.
The home side equalised in the 58th minute. Len O’Sullivan made a fine run on the left. When his cross was headed out by Steven McCullough, Keith Ward was on hand to flick the ball sideways for Malone to shoot past Carey from 16 yards.
Glenavon continued to push forward in search of a winner. James Carroll swung on a cross by Peter Campbell, but the ball was deflected wide.
Portadown’s Luke Wilson, lurking at the far post, attempted to reach a cross by Steven McCullough but was unable to connect with the ball.
In the 77th minute David McDaid missed a gilt-edged opportunity to win the game. When McCullough failed to reach Deane’s goal-kick with his head, the diminutive striker shot with his right foot, but the ball went harmlessly wide.
The influential Ward played a neat one-two with McDaid on the edge of the penalty area, but the return eluded him, and Carey collected.
Then Glenavon stunned Portadown with its late winner. McKeown picked out Carroll with a short wide on the left. The former Loughgall defender struck a right foot shot from 20 yards which Carey dived full length to save. When the ball cannoned back to the edge of the six-yard box, McDaid blasted it into the net.
The entire Glenavon team, substitutes and coaches, including manager Stephen McDonnell, celebrated in front of the pavilion.
GLENAVON: Deane, Marshall, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Carroll, Lynch, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Quinn, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Toure (not used), Atherton for Snoddy (70 mins), O’Connor for Campbell (78 mins), Ward for Lynch (half-time), Doran for Malone (88 mins), McGovern (not used).
Yellow Cards: Quinn (40’), O’Sullivan (45+2’).
PORTADOWN: Carey, Altintop, MacKinnon, L. Wilson, Chapman, Mayse, McCullough, Fyffe, Henderson, Obhakhan, McCartan, SUBS: Redman (not used), D. Wilson (not used), McElroy for Mayse (69 mins), Wylie for Henderson (76 mins), Mullan for Obhakhan (76 mins), McDonagh (not used), Ray (not used).
Yellow Cards: Obhakhan (20’), Wilson (40’), McCullough (56’), Mayse (68’).
REFEREE: Steven Gregg.
