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A nervy and disjointed Glenavon side lost the final League fixture to
a Bangor side that looked relaxed and confident. The opening goal came
thanks to a bizarre decision from the assistant referee when he awarded
a throw in to Bangor after the ball clearly came off Ryan Brown. Brown
reacted quickly and threw the ball to Morrow who skipped past several defenders
before slotting the ball past the despairing dive of Andy McDonald.
The Glenavon midfield had been disrupted by the suspensions of Gareth
Murray (two games) and Kieran O'Connor (one game) and their absence was
only too apparent.
From Walsh's 39th minute cross McAlinden looped a free header over
the Seasiders' keeper but it also cleared the cross bar.
Glenavon was unlucky not to equalize at the start of the second half
but a brilliant save by Ryan Brown (1) denied Delany when he threaded
his way into the box and struck a powerful shot from close range.
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Derek Delany went close to scoring on a couple
of occasions |
Any
chance of making a winning comeback effectively evaporated in the 54th
minute when Johnny Montgomery inexplicably ducked under a long ball from
Cleary the left back and Verner nipped in to chest the ball down and
slot it left footed past a helpless McDonald.
Johnny Topley gave the home side some hope ten minutes later when his
inswinging left foot cross went over Brown, who was unsighted by Delany's
jumping in front of him, and the ball ended up in the net.
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Johnny Topley's seventh goal of the season
wasn't enough to turn the tide in Glenavon's favour. |
Seconds later
Delany almost grabbed the equaliser when he turned smartly on the edge
of the box and fired a left foot shot inches over the cross bar.
Glenavon maintained the pressure for a time with Delany supplying a
dangerous cross in the 77th minute that was hacked clear but Bangor continued to
look dangerous and Verner hit the inside of the post a minute later.
In the end, with Armagh City winning 1-0, the result at Mourneview
became academic but it wasn't the ideal preparation for the crucial
playoff games in a week's time.
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Aidan McVeigh worked hard but was living off
scraps as Glenavon's passing game deserted them. |
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