Ballymena United 2-1 Glenavon

Danske Bank Premiership
Warden Street Showgrounds, Friday November 2nd 2018

Match Report by Philip Hawthorne

Photos by Alan Weir.

Rhys Marshall tries to go past Jim Ervin.

A last-minute winner by Sky Blues substitute Johnny McMurray ended Glenavon’s long unbeaten run after Mark Sykes had equalised Andy McGrory’s first half opener.

Glenavon had started the brighter with a strong wind behind them at a rain-lashed Showgrounds but seconds after a chance fell to Andy Hall from a Stephen Murray cross, a long kick out from Ross Glendinning was held up well by Adam Lecky who played in Cathair Friel and his cross was touched back into the 6 yard box by James Knowles where an unmarked McGrory had a simple tap in to open the scoring. McGrory, who spent six years at Glenavon and turned down an offer of a four year contract extension, declined to celebrate his opening goal against his old club.

Andy McGrory (17) opens the scoring for Ballymena.

Ballymena always looked dangerous on the counterattack with Lecky doing well to hold up the ball and bring teammates into play.

Glenavon piled on the pressure in the second half and it became a backs-to-the-wall effort for the home side as Sykes and Murray sent shots over the cross bar before the Glenavon midfielder caressed a shot into the bottom corner from just inside the box. He had played the ball out to the right to substitute Conor McCloskey and his cross was only headed out as far as Rhys Marshall on the 18 yard line. He squared it to Sykes who steered his shot beyond the reach of Glendinning.

Mark Sykes celebrates after equalising for Glenavon.

Before the restart following the equaliser Gary Hamilton brought on Jordan Jenkins for Andrew Mitchell, his intent clear to go for the win as Glenavon continued to dominate but it was two Sky Blues subs who combined in the final minute to secure the three points. Again a long kick from the keeper caused Glenavon problems with BBC Man of the Match Adam Lecky flicking on to McMurray who laid it off the Tony Kane. His precise cross was perfect for the United sub and his downward header from 10 yards was just beyond the reach of Jonny Tuffey.

James Singleton and Tony Kane in an aerial challenge.

Ballymena Utd.: Ross Glendinning, Addis, Whiteside, Friel, Knowles, McCullough, Faulkner, McGrory, Ervin (c), Lecky, Millar: Subs: McCauley GK, Kane (Knowles 77), Nolan, Winchester (Faulkner 73), Reece Glendinning, McMurray (Friel 84), Umar.

Cautions: McCullough 84

Goals: McGrory 8, McMurray 90

Glenavon: Tuffey, King, Marron, Daniels, Marshall, Mitchell, Sykes, Hall, Murray, Singleton, Doherty. Subs: Grace, Donnelly, Harmon, Clingan, McCloskey (Hall 63), Muir, Jenkins (Mitchell 74)

Cautions: King 79

Goals: Sykes 73

Referee: Andrew Davey