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Glenavon turned in arguably the best performance of the season, with November
Player of the Month, Gareth Walsh contributing a fabulous assist
for the first goal and a brilliant strike for the second.
It was pleasing to see that Dundela did not come to 'shut up shop',
giving players on both sides the chance to produce an entertaining game.
The Glenavon back four were very solid and Andy McDonald was only really
tested once throughout the game whereas Tony Miskelly in the Duns goal
had a much busier afternoon, pulling off a number of fine saves to deny
Glenavon a more comprehensive score line. The first of these came in the
17th minute when he turned Montgomery's 25 yard free kick round the
post. Three minutes later Dundela struggled to clear the ball from the
area after Murray and McMahon combined well on the left. Murray's cross
caused panic under the bar and the ball broke to McMahon on the edge of
the box. His shot was blocked but the rebound was driven back low by
Murray and Miskelly produced an excellent save diving low to his right.
In the 29th minute Walsh went on a mazy run from just inside the Duns
half, leaving a trail of Dundela players in his wake and was tripped in
the box by Walker just as he was about to pull the trigger. Johnny
Topley took the spot kick and, though Miskelly got a hand to his low
shot, he could not keep it out.
A minute later McMahon sent over a great cross to the far post that
eluded Hylands. Walsh wasn't expecting the full back to miss the ball
and was caught back on his heels as the ball flashed in front of him. In
the 35th minute Dundela strung together a flowing move after Reid lost
the ball in an advanced position and it took a good intervention from
Murray to clear the danger. McDonald then made a great save in the 38th
minute when the Duns right back, McKnight found himself in space in the
box. He fired a low shot across the Blues keeper who produced a good
save low to his right as it seemed destined for the bottom corner.
Five minutes into the second half saw Miskelly tip a brilliant left
foot strike by McAlorum onto the bar and from the corner the young
midfielder set up an opportunity for Topley but he dragged his shot well
wide. In the 55th minute McMahon's cross from the left went into the
danger area between keeper and defenders but both McVeigh and Walsh were
just unable to get a touch as they came in at the back post. It was
McMahon at the heart of the action a minute later when Glenavon got the
second goal their play deserved. The referee played a good advantage as
McMahon was tripped in his run into the box but he was able to keep his
feet and lay the ball off for Walsh to strike with a first-time shot
left-footed which curled into the far corner of the net.
In the remaining half hour or so Glenavon fashioned a number of other
chances as they continued to dominate. Topley's curling free kick in the
67th minute was pushed away by the diving Miskelly and the keeper needed
the intervention of Trueick in the 74th minute after McVeigh got on the
end of a penetrating pass by Murray, took the ball round the keeper,
only to see his effort cleared off the line by the Duns defender.
Murray set up another opportunity for Topley in the 79th minute but
his shot went across the keeper and out for a goal kick. In injury time
Montgomery hit another booming free kick just inches over the bar.
Gareth Murray dominated the central midfield with a solid performance,
ably supported by young Stephen McAlorum, with Walsh and Topley
dangerous on the flanks. Up front, Gerard McMahon was a class act and
Aiden McVeigh provided good support alongside him. The addition of
Montgomery to the back four has added a bit of steel and Glenavon have
yet to concede a league goal at home this season.
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