GLENAVON WINS COMFORTABLY AT LOUGHGALL 4n2z6u

Loughgall 0 Glenavon 2 721e6w

Sports Direct Irish Premiership 452l4e

Lakeview Park, Loughgall

Tuesday 4^th March 2025

Glenavon scored twice in the first half and defended with composure in the second to seal a comfortable 2-0 victory against Loughgall.

Chris Atherton (18 mins) and Jack Malone (34 mins) were the men on target for Paddy McLaughlin’s side.

The Lurgan men started positively. In the thirteenth minute Harry Murphy’s header from Peter Campbell’s corner kick was blocked, Chris Atherton’s shot was charged down and Jack Malone’s effort from the edge of the penalty area hit a defender and was cleared.

When Malone’s free kick was allowed to bounce 16 yards out, Michael O’Connor hooked the ball over the crossbar.

Teenage right winger Atherton scored Glenavon’s first goal. Matthew Snoddy released him with a brilliant through . The 16-year-old raced clear of Pablo Andrade and beat Gartside at his near post.

Michael O’Connor broke quickly; Peter Campbell delivered an accurate cross; and Malone forced Gartside to dive full length to save his well struck shot.

Len O’Sullivan burst through on the left but blasted wide when he should have hit the target.

Jack Malone doubled the visitors’ advantage ten minutes before the halftime break. David Toure cleverly switched the play from right to left, Campbell produced another fine cross and the former Derry City midfielder beat Gartside with a fine header.

Glenavon almost extended its lead when Matthew Snoddy crossed from the left and Michael O’Connor let fly with a half volley from 12 yards. Gartside moved quickly to his right to make a brilliant save.

Loughgall’s only goal attempts of the half were two headers from set pieces. Tadhg Ryan easily saved the first from Jordan Gibson and the second from James Carroll.

Although the home side had a wind advantage in the second half, it rarely threatened. Robbie Norton’s shot from the edge of the penalty area which hit a defender was its’ only noteworthy effort.

At the other end Niall Quinn tested Gartside with an accurate free kick from 20 yards and late in the game substitute Paul McGovern forced him to move quickly to save a shot from the edge of the box.

LOUGHGALL: Gartside, Francis, McLaughlin, Carroll, Towe, Andrade, Gibson, Norton, Magee, McCaffrey, Alberto Balde Almanzar, SUBS: Turker (not used), Murdock (not used), Waide for McCaffrey (72 mins), McMenemy for Norton (80 mins), O’Brien (not used), Mahon for McLaughlin (63 mins), McCloskey (not used).

Yellow Cards: Gibson (42’), Norton (65’).

GLENAVON: Deane, Toure, O’Sullivan, Murphy, McKeown, Snoddy, Atherton, Quinn, O’Connor, Malone, Campbell, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Lynch (not used), Prendergast for O’Connor (90+1 min), Carlin (not used), A. Heaney (not used), McGovern for Atherton (84 mins), Wilson for Campbell (84 mins).

Yellow Card: Campbell (64’).

REFEREE: Shane McGonigle.