MARCH 2005

29th March 2005: WINNING RUN CONTINUES

Glenavon won for the third game in a row with a 4-0 home victory over bottom club Ballinamallard today. With the pressure on in the League race, Garth Walsh gave the Blues the ideal start when he poked the ball over the line after only 20 seconds. Aiden McVeigh doubled the lead in the 21st minute and both players completed doubles in the second half. Walsh got his second from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute after Carroll had brought down O'Connor and McVeigh finished with a low strike into the bottom corner after a neat back heel from Walsh set him up about 12 yards out. Full report here.

'Meeky' reflects on three in a row

Glenavon players showed a hunger, wanting the ball, looking to score. “The confidence is high. We’re through our wee blip and now we’re looking forward to every match. They’re getting the ball down and passing it about. The difference between the start of the season and now is that we’re scoring goals and killing teams off. - and don’t forget that that’s three clean sheets in a row.

Realistically our target is to go out and win all of our remaining games. Dundela on Saturday will be a hard game, especially since it’s at their ground and it’s a small pitch. That’ll not particularly suit us, but if we work as hard as we did today then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Aiden McVeigh has re-paid confidence shown in him by scoring two goals today. “He hasn’t had the best of season’s but he seems to be through that and hopefully he can put it all behind him and show what he is really capable of. He’s strong, hungry and can hold the ball up. He’s a smashing player. How can you not include him – he’s scoring goals!”

Taking over during TK’s illness, especially at a time with such pressure on Glenavon, hasn’t been easy for McMeekin but he is enjoying the experience and feeling ‘up to it’. “I know it was a big step but you have to remember that I’m not doing it on my own. We’ve a big backroom team and Tommy’s just at the end of the phone. I talk to Tommy all the time and I’ve also got Wilbert and Colin. We all ‘pull together’. If there is a problem you can bounce it off so many people. The support is professional and always available.”

Tommy Kincaid was a restless spectator at today’s game, following doctor’s orders and playing no part in team affairs. “We’re on a good run and the boys are playing well. Wayne’s done a great job and from my point of view it’s good to know that you’ve got such reliable and capable backup and support and that it works!”

26th March 2005: DC 0-2 GLENAVON

A goal in each half by Kieran O'Connor sealed a vital victory for Glenavon over second placed Donegal Celtic at Suffolk this morning. Gerard McMahon, last-minute replacement for Stephen Hyndes who was injured in the warm-up, provided the exquisite pass that set up the first goal. O'Connor showed a good touch to control the ball on the edge of the area and seemed to take an age before stroking the ball past the stranded keeper. The second goal resulted from Aiden McVeigh putting the defender under pressure and forcing an error that allowed the ball to break for O'Connor. Once again he showed a cool head as he slotted the ball past the keeper.

Report

Glenavon's own keeper, Andy McDonald had a superb game, making three vital saves, one a double stop when the score was still 1-0. His handling throughout was also impeccable. The DC keeper also made a couple of very good saves, to deny O'Connor his hat trick and also keeping out McVeigh's shot near the end.

Both sides had the ball in the net in the first half, Gerard McMahon having an effort ruled out for a foul on the keeper and Brendan Allsopp heading in from a free kick only to have it disallowed for pushing.

22nd March 2005: BLUES REACH INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL

Aiden McVeigh's superb 17th minute strike gave Glenavon a deserved half time lead in Tuesday night's Belfast Telegraph Intermediate Cup Semi Final. Clifford's ball was flicked on to to the striker by Walsh and it landed nicely at his feet. He turned two defenders on the edge of the box before curling a beauty into the top corner with his left foot. Killyleagh''s best effort of the half came from midfielder Kevin Savage as he wove his way through the Glenavon defence on the left and fired a fierce cross-shot that McDonald saved well, with McAlinden clearing before Mark Holland could pounce.

In the second half Glenavon looked to consolidate the lead and Walsh shot wide when Gawley played him in. Just after the hour mark McDonald made an absolutely brilliant one-handed save to deny Mark Holland's powerful strike that was heading for the bottom corner. Within two minutes McVeigh, who was voted Belfast Telegraph Man of the Match, doubled his and Glenavon's tally when he headed home Hyndes' left wing cross to complete a flowing move after McShane had released the skipper with a well weighted ball inside the full back.

Walsh was unlucky in the 74th minute when he chipped Burgess and the keeper got the slightest of touches to just divert the ball onto the base of the post.

Report

In the other semi final played at Ballyskeagh on Wednesday night Donegal Celtic defeated Harland & Wolff Welders 2-1. The final between DC and Glenavon will be played on Friday 22nd April, venue yet to be decided.

This competition takes precedence over the League so Glenavon's game against Ballyclare, originally scheduled for 23rd April, has had to be re-arranged for Tuesday 26th April at 7:45pm.

Wayne McMeekin was in charge of Glenavon team affairs for tonight’s Intermediate Cup Semi Final with Killyleagh YC at the Oval. “The night went really well for us. During the first twenty minutes we got the ball down and we kept at them. After that we fell back a bit and allowed them to come into the game. While they didn’t cause us that many problems I wasn’t happy with the performance. We were losing our shape; they were winning the first ball.

“At half time we sat down and explained what we could see was going wrong and the boys were positive in their reaction. I thought they played really well in the second half.

“We could rest players tonight – even though it was out of our hands to some extent what with injuries and those not eligible to play in the competition – but it’ll not do some of the boys any harm to sit out tonight’s game. We brought Johnny Wright off after he went over on his ankle and that gave me the chance to give Jimmy McCloskey a bit of a run for possible inclusion on Saturday against DC. On Thursday night we’ll work on a couple of situations in training and have a good chat to make sure that we’re ready for Saturday.

“The character’s good in the team and we needed that wee bit of a boost tonight. Every team goes through a blip in the season and hopefully that’s the end of ours. There’s still a lot of football to be played. There’ll be a lot of turns and twists yet to come. We’ve confidence in ourselves and in our squad. When you get beaten you have to dig deep and you have to dig well. It’s not always about how well you play, but about the result. Tonight we played well and we got the result. The Boss will be well pleased.”

Unfortunately Tommy Kincaid had to be admitted to hospital on Monday for routine tests, following symptoms he began to notice a number of weeks ago. TK hopes to be fit enough to return to duties for Glenavon's next league game against Donegal Celtic this coming Saturday, which has an 11.30 kick off at the Suffolk Road ground, and everyone at the club wishes Tommy a speedy recovery.

Man of the Match, Aiden McVeigh has had a frustrating season to date, much of it on the sidelines of the squad. “I’ve just had to knuckle down and work hard. But while it was great to win the award, tonight was a team performance, and the best team won on the night. The goals will go down to me but I got great support and service from throughout the team. Walshy flicked on the first for me and Hyndsey played a great ball in for my second – all I had to do was nod it in!”

19th March 2005: ARMAGH STRETCH LEAD AT TOP

After Anto Reilly gave City the lead with a header from Crowe's 35th minute free kick, Glenavon equalised when half-time substitute Johnny Topley bundled the ball over the line from Walsh's corner. Glenavon looked to press on for a winner but a long ball over the top caught the defence out and Reilly doubled his tally with an emphatic strike past McDonald. The impressive Davy Hawthorne, who had gone at the visitors at every opportunity, set up substitute John Joe Maguire for a simple finish to clinch the three points for the hosts four minutes from time. Report

Glenavon line up: Andy McDONALD, Johnny WRIGHT, Barry REID, Gary CLIFFORD, David McALINDEN, Gareth MURRAY, Gerard McMAHON, Scott WALKER,  Garth WALSH, Paul McKNIGHT, Stephen HYNDES. Subs:  Derek DELANEY  (Hyndes 72), Aiden McVEIGH (McKnight 60), Johnny TOPLEY (Walker 46).

15th March 2005: BLUES CRASH AT CARRICK

Carrick Rangers 4-2 Glenavon

Despite dominating for the first 30 minutes and taking a well deserved lead in the 17th minute through a diving header from Paul McKnight, Glenavon failed to kill the game off and poor defending at two long free kicks into the box in the 33rd and 38th minutes allowed Ricky Culbertson and Ross Hegan to benefit as they rose to plant free headers past Glenavon's young keeper, Stephen Carroll, in for the suspended Andy McDonald.

Garth Walsh drew Glenavon level in the 63rd minute as he rose at the back post to head McKnight's cross past Hartley but veteran striker Crawford McRea restored Rangers' lead five minutes later when he showed a good touch to control a deflected cross and turned and shot low past the helpless Carroll. The young keeper was also blameless when left winger Thomas Dickson volleyed home a deep cross at the back post. Report.

Glenavon line up: Stephen CARROLL, Barry REID, Stephen HYNDES, Gary CLIFFORD, David McALINDEN, Stephen McALORUM,  Gerard McMAHON, Kieran O'CONNOR, Derek DELANEY,  Paul McKNIGHT, Garth WALSH. Subs: Gareth MURRAY (O'Connor 74), Aiden McVEIGH (Delaney 69), Scott WALKER (McAlorum 42)

11th March 2005: SUSPENSIONS

Andy McDonald has been given a one match ban for reaching 20 Penalty Points and will miss the Carrick fixture.

Jonny Montgomery has been given a further seven match ban for reaching 52 Penalty Points. This makes a total of eleven matches to be missed.

BLUES HIT FOUR

The final score line was emphatic enough but, after taking an early lead through a sublime goal by Derek Delaney, Glenavon pressed the self-destruct button in the 26th minute when Davy McAlinden and Andy McDonald got in a mix-up and allowed Davy Paul in to score an equaliser. After this the home side's play fell apart and lost its fluency for the rest of the first half.

Ten minutes into the second half Kieran O'Connor scored with a superbly executed free kick and this seemed to revitalise Glenavon's play. Davy McAlinden added another with a powerful header, his third in as many games, as McKnight delivered a pinpoint cross from a free kick near the right corner.

Glenavon's fourth goal was a calamity for the visiting keeper as he rushed out of his area to get to a through ball ahead of McVeigh but mis-kicked, and McVeigh, who had just come on as an 80th minute substitute, slotted the ball home from wide on the left. Report.

TK's post match comments:

“I told the boys before the game that they had a job to do tonight. The job was to get three points for Glenavon and they did that. The three points was the most important thing. You can knock the ball about all you want – and at times I thought we played some nice football though we didn’t hurt them enough in the final area of the pitch – but it’s all about results. Three points tonight puts Armagh under a bit of pressure tomorrow because we still have games in hand.

“Yes the first half became a bit scrappy. We all get frustrated when we see the first goal go in early and then you hope to go on and finish the game. It didn’t happen. We sat back and let them come back into it. I had a real go at the boys at half time and there’s no doubt they responded and established themselves as the better and dominant side after the break.

“There was nothing wrong with four goals tonight. I was pleased for Derek Delaney. I thought he took his opportunity really well. Big Davy McAlinden is making a bit of a habit of coming up with the odd goal and I was really pleased for Aiden McVeigh as well. Kieran O’Connor’s goal was a peach. Scoring goals like that tonight is a habit we have to maintain.”

Looking forward to Tuesday night’s match against Carrick Rangers without the suspended Andy McDonald, TK admitted that the circumstances weren’t ideal. “At the end of the day we have to live with the situation as it presents itself to us. We’ve done it before and I will expect the experienced players to protect the goalkeeper and make sure that he doesn’t have a lot to do! I’ll decide over the weekend which of my two junior ‘keepers comes in for Andy but I do know that both are eager for the opportunity to establish themselves and I have confidence in their ability to just that.”

MINI-SOCCER CENTRE

Glenavon's Youth Development Officer, Seamus Heath, has just reopened his Mini-Soccer Centre. Last Wednesday over 70 children attended and places are still available. The centre is open to boys and girls aged 5-11 years and the sessions are designed to meet the needs of young children, develop new skills, make new friends and encourage fun and fair play.

The session are held each Wednesday evening from 6pm to 7pm at Glenavon's Tandragee Road training ground and the cost is £2. For further information contact Seamus on 07739 187668 or by email.

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