BRILLIANT GLENAVON BRUSHES CRUSADERS ASIDE

BRILLIANT GLENAVON BRUSHES CRUSADERS ASIDE 2b2758

Glenavon 3 Crusaders 1 6m2e4i

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Tuesday 17th December 2024

A brilliant second half performance by Glenavon swept Crusaders aside and sealed the first win of the Paddy McLaughlin era.

Michael O’Connor (43 mins) and Peter Campbell (62 mins) scored the home side’s first two goals. The third was a Jordan Forsythe o.g. (73 mins).

Philip Lowry (19 mins) found the net for the visitors.

Crusaders started the match brightly. Ross Clarke’s 8thminute free kick cannoned back off the defensive wall. When the ball was recycled, Brandon Downey headed wide from Jacob Blaney’s cross.

At the other end Peter Campbell threatened with a brilliant free kick effort from wide on the right. Jimmy Callacher bravely headed the Richhill man’s shot out of the goalmouth.

The Crues went in front when Philip Lowry nodded Jordan Forysthe’s long throw-in past Mark Byrne from 6 yards.

Callacher, back in first-team action after a long injury lay-off, almost embarrassed Byrne with a free kick attempt from 40 yards. The young goalkeeper fingertipped the ball onto the crossbar.

As the half progressed Glenavon gradually gained the ascendancy.

Matthew Snoddy’s header from Len O’Sullivan cross was deflected narrowly wide.

Campbell blasted the ball over the crossbar from an acute angle after a sweeping by Mark Haughey.

Then Jack Malone headed Campbell’s cross against the side netting of Jonathan Tuffey’s goal.

Chris Atherton cut in from the right, but his shot went wide of the far post.

Michael O’Connor equalised for Glenavon just before half-time. When Atherton’s cross was deflected over the by-line for a corner-kick, the striker rose at the near post to head Peter Campbell’s inviting cross into the net.

In the 51st minute Jordan Forsythe shot narrowly wide of the near post. It was Crusaders’ last attempt of the match.

Eleven minutes later Davy McDaid nicked the ball from Harry Jewitt-White on the edge of his own penalty area and began a lung-busting run into opposition territory. When he had travelled beyond the centre circle, he played the ball to Chris Atherton on he left. The teenager picked out Peter Campbell on the right with a delicious and the number ten fired past Tuffey from 8 yards.

Glenavon, ahead for the first time in a league fixture since early October, surged forward in search of a third. When O’Connor’s shot was blocked, McDaid fired over the crossbar.

After O’Connor took possession 25 yards out from his own goal, he found Campbell on the left. Peter sprinted forward and squared the ball to Davy McDaid inside the penalty area. When the former Coleraine striker’s shot was charged down by Daniel Larmour, the ball hit Forsythe and ricocheted into the net.

Minutes later Jack Malone shot narrowly over the crossbar.

Atherton dispossessed Larmour inside his own half and made a surging run deep into Crusaders territory before shooting against the inside of the far post.

Campbell broke clear on the wing and picked out Jack Malone inside the penalty area. The midfielder skilfully moved the ball to the left but shot narrowly over the crossbar.

The final whistle was greeted with huge cheers from the patrons in the main grandstand.

CRUSADERS: Tuffey, Jewitt-White, O’Rourke, Callacher, Larmour, Blaney, Lowry, Clarke, Forsythe, Williamson, Downey, SUBS: Kerr (not used), Owens for Williamson (half-time), Vance for Jewitt-White (75 mins), Donnelly for Downey (60 mins), Walker (not used), Harrison (not used), Karrabecaj (not used).

Yellow Cards: Blaney (12’), Clarke (55’), Owens (87’).

GLENAVON: Byrne, Toure, O’Sullivan, Haughey, McKeown, Snoddy, Malone, O’Connor, McDaid, Campbell, Atherton, SUBS: Fry (not used), Doona for O’Connor (75 mins), Lynch (not used), Carroll (not used), Ward (not used), Doran (not used), McGovern (not used).