GLENAVON EARNS DESERVED POINT IN SIX 30m43 GOAL THRILLER

GLENAVON EARNS DESERVED POINT IN SIX-GOAL THRILLER 5b6y2t

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Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 30th November 2024

Glenavon produced a rousing second half performance to earn a point against Coleraine in a six-goal thriller.

The Bannsiders raced into a two-goal lead and then moved 3-1 ahead. However, during a frenetic last twenty minutes, Paddy McLaughlin’s men scored twice to secure a deserved share of the spoils.

David McDaid (61, pen. 77 mins) and Matthew Snoddy (90+5 mins) were the men on target for the Lurgan Blues.

Rhyss Campbell (6 mins), Jamie Glackin (13 mins) and Cameron Stewart (64 mins) scored for Dean Shiels’ side.

Glenavon conceded twice in the opening thirteen minutes. However, Rhys Marshall could and perhaps should have given it the lead when he blasted Peter Campbell’s early corner-kick over the bar from eight yards.

Coleraine went ahead when Jamie Glackin, the first half’s best player, burst into the penalty area, left James Carroll in his wake and crossed low. Gareth Deane got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it falling to the feet of former Dungannon Swifts winger Rhyss Campbell. He shot into the net from 6 yards.

Seven minutes later Glackin made the score 2-0. This time he exchanged es with Corey Smith on the left and sidefooted the ball under Deane from 8 yards. The Glenavon goalkeeper looked to have the shot covered but allowed it to creep under his body.

Glenavon, as weak offensively as it was defensively, rarely looked like scoring. Its best effort of the opening 45 minutes was a free kick attempt by Jack Malone which Max Little dived full length to save.

On the stroke of half-time, Matthew Snoddy shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

Early in the second half Paddy McLaughlin introduced Michael O’Connor, David Toure and Niall Quinn. All three substitutes played a role in a much improved display.

Quinn, playing in the centre of defence, picked out Davy McDaid with a fine forward . The former Coleraine striker attempted an audacious lob from 25 yards. It was only inches over the crossbar.

Peter Campbell, who had his best 45 minutes of the season, was a constant threat on the left. In the 61stminute he delivered a penetrating early cross which Chris Atherton met at the far post. Fortuitously, the ball struck Davy McDaid’s thigh and flew into the net.

Two minutes later Coleraine, in its only worthwhile attempt on goal during the entire second half, scored a third. Cameron Stewart headed a deep cross past Gareth Deane. The Glenavon goalkeeper seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball as he rushed off his line.

The influential Michael O’Connor got his head to a Campbell cross, but his weak attempt was saved easily.

In the 75th minute Jack Malone almost scored with a sensational lob from inside his own half. Max Little did well to reach the ball before it entered the net.

Less than two minutes later Glenavon was awarded a penalty kick when Cameron Stewart fouled Peter Campbell in a goalmouth scramble after David Toure’s close-range shot had been saved by Little.

Davy McDaid confidently shot past the Coleraine goalkeeper.

McDaid, later named Glenavon’s ‘Player of the Match’, seemed to have completed his hat-trick when he turned smartly and beat Little with a deft finish from 8 yards. However, the assistant referee raised his flag for an infringement.

Nonetheless Glenavon continued to pour forward in search of the equaliser.

Chris Atherton almost got a toe to O’Connor’s inviting cross.

Little made a fine save from Niall Quinn’s in-swinging corner-kick.

Jack Malone shot over the cross bar from 20 yards and then blasted a free kick against the wall.

In the first minute of added time Michael O’Connor’s effort clipped a defender and went inches wide of the near post.

Finally, in the fifth minute of injury time, the home side’s relentless pressure told. Peter Campbell delivered another cross into the penalty area, this time with his right foot, O’Connor headed the ball down and Matthew Snoddy poked it past Little from six yards.

A dramatic end to an enthralling match.

GLENAVON: Deane, Marshall, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Carroll, Snoddy, Malone, Doona, McDaid, P. Campbell, Atherton, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Toure for Marshall(51 mins), Quinn for Carroll (51 mins), O’Connor for Doona (51 mins), Ward (not used), Doran (not used), McGovern (not used).

Yellow Card: Malone (37’).

COLERAINE: Little, Kane, Jarvis, Boyle, Stewart, R. Campbell, J. Scott, Shevlin, Murray, Glackin, C. Smith, SUBS: Brown (not used), Spence (not used), Carse (not used), Harkin for C. Smith (59 mins), McLaughlin for Glackin (80 mins), McGonigle for Murray (79 mins), Devine (not used).