Glenavon's 0-1 defeat by
Ballymena United on Friday night throws the Group B CIS League Cup table
wide open, with leaders Portadown not in action due to UEFA Cup
commitments.
Paul Byrne was given a warm welcome back to Mourneview
Park where he had spent much of his early career and, as he had done so
many times for the Lurgan Blues, he put in a solid performance at the
heart of the visitor's defence.
Stephen Hyndes had the best of Glenavon's chances, with
two efforts, a header and a low shot, in the first five minutes, but he
found Robinson in good form in the Sky Blues net. The closest he came to
scoring was right at the end of the first half when his shot from around
the penalty spot forced a brilliant finger tip save which diverted the
ball over the bar.
Ballymena had rarely threatened in the first 45 minutes
but in the second half Kenny Shiels adopted a more direct approach and
this paid off almost straight away. Just five minutes into the second
half midfielder Oran Kearny got on the end of a long ball and Rice was
unable to keep out his low ground shot despite getting a hand to it.
On the hour mark Paul Byrne drilled a well struck shot
through a crowded box. Rice must have seen it very late and he did well
to get something on it but it needed a desperate clearance to deny
Ballymena a second. Three minutes later Boyd found himself unmarked at
the back post as a free kick came in from the left but he blasted his
shot across the goal a wide of the other post.
In the 69th minute Renwick, playing at centre back in
place of the injured Pete Batey, stood on the ball and this allowed
McDowell in on goal. It took a great block by Hawe to deny him. Campbell
then outpaced Collins as the ball broke down the left but Rice made a
brilliant save at his feet. Kearney almost scored a carbon copy of his
earlier effort but it was Rice to the rescue again.
Late on, substitute Philip Rogan had the ball in the
Ballymena net with a fantastic dipping volley from close to the left
touchline but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag - a
close decision.
McPherson then replaced Heath and he soon forced Robinson into making a
good save as he cut in from the right wing and unleashed a well-struck
left foot shot from just inside the area. Alfie Wylie threw Hawe up front
in an attempt to salvage a point from the game and his gamble almost
paid off when Hawe struck a shot that was curling towards to top corner
but there was Robinson again to pluck the ball out of the air.
Plenty of effort but the ball rarely broke for Glenavon in the box
and at times the defence looked rather disorganized, perhaps missing the
experience of Batey.
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