GLENAVON SUFFERS DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT 313xq
Glenavon 0 Ballymena United 1 5v6m1g
Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e
Mourneview Park, Lurgan
Saturday 12th October 2024
A second half penalty kick by Ben Kennedy secured three points for Ballymena United and a remarkable eighth consecutive league victory.
Glenavon, without the influential Keith Ward and forced to withdraw Barney McKeown at half time due to injury, struggled to create clear cut scoring chances.
That said, Ballymena was almost equally impotent in attack.
The decisive incident occurred in the 62nd minute. When Ben Kennedy found Aaron Jarvis just inside the 18-yard area, Glenavon defender Len O’Sullivan bundled into him from behind. Referee Jamie Robinson, well positioned five yards away, pointed to the spot. Kennedy confidently despatched the penalty.
After a bad-tempered start, the game settled into a pattern which was dictated by the strong wind. Glenavon attacked the Crescent Stand End in the first half with the breeze on its backs.
A Jack Malone effort from distance was deflected wide.
In the 21st minute Peter Campbell picked out Davy McDaid with a fine long . The former Larne and Coleraine striker controlled the ball well but shot against a defender. Jamie Doran latched onto the rebound but failed to hit the target.
Ballymena, as the half progressed, slowly gained a foothold. Joe Moore’s long-range attempt was saved easily by Deane. Then Calvin McCurry failed to reach a dangerous cross by Andrew Scott with his head.
Malone, after another surging run, shot high and wide. McDaid headed the ball into Campbell’s path, but his ambitious volley did not trouble O’Neill.
In first half injury time Scott made a fine run on the left. When he picked out Aaron Jarvis, the midfielder let fly with his right foot. Barney McKeown, with Deane stranded, stretched to make the clearance. However, he suffered an injury in the process. Ironically, the ball may have been going wide.
Just on the half time whistle Niall Quinn struck an excellent left foot shot from 20 yards which O’Neill dived to save.
Ballymena showed its intentions early in the second period when Josh Carson let fly from distance. Gareth Deane dived to fingertip the ball to safety.
Moments later McCurry shot wide with a right foot volley.
In the 54th minute Len O’Sullivan failed to convert Glenavon’s best chance of the match. Peter Campbell slid the ball into his path. When he unloaded a left foot effort, O’Neill saved well. The young defender had a clear sight of goal. He probably should have done better.
When Davy McDaid broke quickly on the right, he blasted the ball narrowly over the crossbar from a difficult angle.
A few minutes later Ben Kennedy scored what proved to be the winning goal.
Glenavon brought on Chris Atherton and James Doona but huffed and puffed for much of the remainder of the game. A half-hit effort by David Toure was its only worthwhile attempt.
Substitute Johnny McMurray might have added a second but shot over the crossbar when well placed.
GLENAVON: Deane, Marshall, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Carroll, Doran, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Quinn, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Toure for McDaid (80 mins), Atherton for Doran (69 mins), O’Connor for Campbell (72 mins), Lynch for McKeown (half time), Doona for Snoddy (69 mins), Wilson (not used).
Yellow Cards: Lynch (52’), O’Sullivan (62’), Carroll (73’).
BALLYMENA UNITED: O’Neill, Nelson, Lafferty, Rocks, Jarvis, Scott, Moore, Kennedy, McCurry, McCallion, Carson, SUBS: Johnston (not used), Gawne for Scott (92+2 mins), O’Donnell for Rocks (90+2 mins), Devlin for Kennedy (90+2 mins), McMurray for Moore (70 mins), Brown for Lafferty (34 mins), Stewart (not used).
Yellow Cards: Rocks (11’), Lafferty (16’).
REFEREE: Jamie Robinson.