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NEWS ARCHIVE

NOVEMBER 2005

29th November: BLUES BAG TEN!

Holders Glenavon eased through to the second round of the Mid Ulster Cup with a convincing 10-0 victory over Mid Ulster Intermediate League side Richhill FC. The Juniors actually had the first chance of the night with Gary Robertson testing Stephen Carroll with a well-executed overhead kick but after that it was pretty much one-way traffic.

Marty Verner opened the scoring after 18 minutes after he fired in the rebound when the keeper spilled a cross. Paul Carville added the second with a great strike from 25 yards and Scott Walker got the third from the spot after Paul Evans was felled just inside the box. Walker added his second of the night when he slammed home the loose ball after the keeper was unable to hold Verner's fierce 20 yard drive.

McVeigh got his name on the score sheet two minutes before the interval when he volleyed home Reid's deep cross. There was still time for Glenavon to add a sixth before half time when Evans fired in direct from a free kick wide on the right.

Stephen McAlorum, making his first team comeback after a long injury layoff, bagged the first of his two goals in the 57th minute when he fired a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Big Davy McAlinden, wearing the captain's armband for the night, is getting used to seeing his name on the score sheet and tonight was no exception when he tapped in from close range after the keeper could only parry McVeigh's header.

McAlorum got his second five minutes later when he smashed home the ball from Gawley's layoff on the edge of the box. Late substitute Shea Campbell completed the scoring with a great left foot strike as he raced on to Carville's ball down the inside left channel.

26th November: BRAVE BLUES LOSE

Both managers agreed that the 0-3 score line rather flattered the Champions, with Glenavon enjoying good possession but it was the finishing that told the tale.

Andy McDonald will not be happy with the first two Glentoran goals. In the 25th minute he seemed to lose the flight of Peter McCann's cross and the ball flew over his head and dropped in at the back post. McDonald then pulled off an unbelievable save to push a close range shot from Parkhouse onto the bar and away to safety. Remember Gordon Banks' save from Pele?

Things could have been different but for an outstanding save by Morris in the 37th  minute after Aidan McVeigh brilliantly turned McGibbon on the edge of the box and fired in a low shot towards the bottom corner that Morris finger-tipped around the post.

With Glenavon still well in the game at 0-1, McDonald punched Holmes' corner straight to the feet of Browne and he fired home from 10 yards. McVeigh smashed a great 30 yard shot onto the cross bar eight minutes from time but Glenavon were caught on the break by a good through ball from Melaugh that Lockhart slotted coolly past the exposed Glenavon keeper to complete the scoring.

Glenavon played well but too often were guilty of gifting possession to the opposition and the quality of the Glens finishing ultimately proved the decisive difference.

Scott Young

Best wishes from everyone associated with Glenavon FC go to Glentoran's Scott Young who unfortunately broke his leg in an innocuous challenge with Conor Walsh today. Speaking after the match Roy Coyle passed on Scott's message of assurance to Conor that he was not at fault in any way.

Post-Match Interviews

Jim Brown

"We gave Glentoran a run for their money"

"I don't think we deserved the 3-0 score line. For people who weren't at the match it hides a lot. Certainly I think we gave Glentoran a run for their money.  Even in the second half when it was one-nil I thought we were very much in the game. We had loads of the play without really troubling Elliott Morris in goal but we had a lot of the ball. I think we were given an object lesson in how to finish.

"When we went two-nil down I had to change it: we went three at the back and three up front, going for it and then you're killed with a sucker punch again.

"I'm disappointed and that says a lot actually when you are playing the League Champions out there and you are disappointed that you are beaten. I'm pleased that we put up a fight against them but at the end of the day, the difference in the teams, in my opinion, was the way they finished."

Roy Coyle

"We had to work our socks off"

"Scott's tib and fib have both gone again but the one thing I have to say is there is no blame attached to Conor Walsh. Scotty said to send that message to the lad in case he has any bad feeling about it.

"We've had two very hard games away from home: away to Newry and away to Glenavon today. We got what we set out to get which was six points. I have to say the 3-0 probably flattered us here. I think the difference in the teams today was finishing. We were able to put the ball in the back of the net. You know when you have that quality in your game it can win you games as it did today.

"It was a difficult fixture dealt with and we had to work our socks off. They put us under a lot of pressure in the first 20 odd minutes. They had corner kicks and they got a lot of balls into the box. Elliott had to make a couple of saves and then we got the break from Peter McCann. In the second half even though they had a lot of pressure, I'm sure Jimmy will agree, they didn't use the ball as well."

WALKER CLUB IS 41!

McANALLEN SIGNED

Glenavon have signed young defender Conor McAnallen from Portadown. The 19 year old, who can play at left or right back or on the right in midfield, was well regarded by the Portadown fans. He was on the bench for Portadown in the CIS Cup clash against Glenavon at Shamrock Park, when he replaced Philip Craig after 60 minutes. Unfortunately Conor will not be eligible to play for the First Team until the transfer window opens in January so he will have to maintain his match fitness in the Reserves.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

NEW DUGOUTS

Glenavon directors George Malone and Cecil Geddis are assisted by Billy Corkin and Bertie Porter to build concrete plinths for new dug-outs. The old dug-outs were also removed. Mr Geddis explained that the older dug-outs prevented a full view of the pitch for those using the wheelchair area and that such ongoing work on ground improvement was part and parcel of everyday life at Mourneview Park.

ANOTHER AWAY WIN

Glenavon's excellent away form continued with this well-deserved 2-1 victory at Drumahoe. The Lurgan Blues got off to the ideal start with a second minute penalty slammed into the net by Shea Campbell after Ogilby pulled back Aidan McVeigh who had started in place of injury-hampered Marty Verner.

Defender Aaron Black doubled the lead when he glanced in McMahon's in swinging free kick in the 42nd minute.

The home side were much more positive in the second half and a fine 68th minute strike by half-time substitute Andrew Sproule gave them hope but Glenavon held on to extend their unbeaten run to four games.

Gerard McMahon had to be helped off the pitch ten minutes from time after he was caught by a late challenge from Ruiari Boyle. Although it looked like a potentially serious injury at the time, Jimmy Brown confirmed after the match that McMahon was okay, though suffering from a lot of bruising to his foot.

Following the victory against Institute, Glenavon have now won as many league games as in the whole of the infamous relegation season. Ten of Glenavon's 15 points have come on the road, the same as current leaders Linfield.

Post-match with Jim Brown

"I was delighted to get three points away from home particularly with Institute coming off a bad result last week, with no manager and one of their strikers with a broken leg – those boys had something to prove – so to come away with a win, and it was a hard fought win, was extremely pleasing. We were trying to keep it tight for the first fifteen or twenty minutes in the second half but obviously they got back into it again. They had to change their tactics – they were playing with five in the middle of the park and they changed it in the second half. We knew if they scored we were going to be in trouble and then obviously they did score and we were under the cosh for long periods but what pleased me was the character of the team and even though they scored and put a lot of pressure on us, we battled away and eventually won the game.

"Apart from the goal Andy wasn’t tested but at the same time, neither was their keeper in the second half. There was a lot of working going on in midfield but they looked dangerous and when the lad Sproule came on he caused us problems with his pace and he turned big Davy at that stage, there was a half sort of slip in it too, but he turned well and it was a great finish – the keeper had no chance. To get through that stage and the pressure we were under it was good character from the boys.

"McMahon is fine. We thought at one stage there was maybe a break but it’s just heavy bruising. The lad who tackled Gerard was late but I think he tried to pull out of it, to be fair to the guy, but he just caught him. I don’t think it was malicious at all."

BLUES FIGHT BACK

Glenavon 2-2 Cliftonville

Despite dominating the first half, Glenavon had to come from behind twice in a second half that Cliftonville bossed. Even so, Blues manager Jim Brown felt that his side had gifted the two goals to the Reds.

Aaron Black put through his own net at the near post as he tried to cut out a Gary Kennedy cross. Conor Walsh struck a great equaliser 60 seconds later when he smashed home McAlinden's knock down from McMahon's corner. The corner had come when Stranney tipped Montgomery's 30 yard screamer over the bar.

Substitute Mark Holland restored  the visitor's lead 14 minutes from time when he stabbed home from close range after McDonald spilled Kennedy's cross-shot at his near post. McAlinden earned a point for Glenavon when he powered home an 83rd minute header from McMahon's corner. Report.

With 8 League games played Glenavon have averaged exactly 1.5 points per game. If the Lurgan Blues can maintain this ratio they will finish the Season with over 40 points. In the Glenavon's last Premier League season that points total would have earned 6th or 7th place.

Post-match with Jim Brown

"It turned out an even game but it was us in the first half. We had a lot of possession and we had a few chances but again it wouldn’t go in for us; and they were clear cut chances, I must say. Having said that, fair play to Cliftonville. They came out in the second half and bossed it for most of the second half. They got their noses in front though two bad mistakes on our part but you have to applaud my team for coming back and showing a bit of character. Gerard McMahon puts in a beautiful ball from a corner and big Davy goes in and gets the equaliser.

"All in all I’ve mixed emotions in terms of: we played very well the first half but didn’t do so well in the second. In the first half we got in and we created but we didn’t convert and that’s a problem at this level. If you create so many chances as that you really need to be getting you name on the score sheet. In the second half Cliftonville didn’t let us play well because they closed us down. They realised what was happening. Neil Gawley didn’t get as much of the ball and obviously he was causing them problems in the first forty-five.

"You can’t take anything away from Cliftonville because they worked at it and played very well in the second half and made us battle, which we did, and we came back twice and got the draw. Any team that I manage, I expect them to give 100% and they do, all the players do that. What I can’t take is making these silly mistakes all the time and presenting teams with goals. I find it difficult to look back over our recent games and find that we’ve been given presents – we haven’t. We’ve had to work hard for our goals so there’s an emotion of doing well, losing it for a spell and then coming back into it to get a point."

'TWO POINTS DROPPED'

Post-match with Jim Brown

A point gained or two points dropped? 'Two points dropped, I think, certainly on the second half performance. The first half was even. Maybe Coleraine shaded it. They are a big physical side and the two big guys up front were hard to defend against but we did it. We didn’t really trouble O’Hare in the first half but I think in the second half we turned it round, tried to play a bit of football, tried to keep it down on the deck and created quite a number of chances but O’Hare was in outstanding form and he made a couple of great saves and the defenders made a few good blocks.

'We could have won it in the second half - we had a lot of possession and were really camped in their half and they found it difficult to deal with us so I would have been happier with three points rather than the one. Andy McDonald didn’t have much to do in the second half and most of the play was in their half. I was pleased with the performance but at the same time you have to give credit to Coleraine. They battled hard and defended well.'

Glenavon haven't registered a League win at Ballycastle Road since a 2-0 victory on 6th January 2001. Paul Gaston put through his own goal from a cross by Johnny Montgomery in the third minute and Dean Smith powered in a header from a Gerard McMahon overhead kick after 52 minutes.

BATTLING WIN

Newry City 1-2 Glenavon

Glenavon bounced back from last week's disappointing home defeat to take all three points at a wind and rain lashed Newry Showgrounds.

Despite going behind to a third minute Packie McAllister goal, Jimmy Brown's men looked determined throughout and were unlucky not to equalise in the 21st minute when Robinson saved O'Connor's shot with his foot. The visitors did deservedly draw level through a Marty Verner goal in the 72nd minute as he fired home from Campbell's layoff. Seconds later City's centre half, Paddy McLaughlin was red carded for a challenge on Shea Campbell that left the Glenavon striker needing treatment for a head injury.

The Glenavon winner came four minutes from time when Davy McAlinden stabbed the ball home from 6 yards after a defender nicked the ball off Verner's toe as he was about to shoot and the ball broke kindly to the popular big centre half. Match Report

In Glenavon's last season in the Premier League, after 20 games the Blues had only amassed 9 points and finished with a paltry 16 points which saw them relegated. After today's win Glenavon already have 10 points in the bag after just six games.

Post-match Interviews

Brown 'Absolutely delighted'

Jim Brown: 'What a difference a week makes. Obviously everybody in the camp is very pleased. I’m pleased for the players themselves because they worked their socks off and I’m very pleased for the supporters. I was impressed with the number of supporters we brought with us today and they certainly got their money’s worth.

'We came off a bad result last week and we got a lot of criticism and rightly so and I didn’t shy away from that. What I asked the players to do, and we worked on a few things on Thursday night, was to give me a reaction because the performance last week wasn’t a Glenavon performance. I asked them to go out and rectify things. I was particularly pleased for Marty Verner; he scored the first one and I’m glad it fell for him. He works very hard up front along with Shea.

'To come out 2-1 winners: I’m absolutely delighted. It wasn’t a day for pretty football. That was the other thing we talked about: at times we maybe try to build too much and try to play too much football. This was a day when you had to try to move the ball on, turn their back four; slippery conditions, wind blowing, rain pelting down. It wasn’t a day for pretty football but the boys adapted well, I must say and to come from a goal behind to win it 2-1, even though they were reduced to 10 men, I’m extremely happy and pleased and proud for the performance. We played against Ards with ten men and we know how difficult it can be and I thought they’re just going to lift their game and give that wee bit more which would put pressure on us but the lads handled it well and I was very pleased for everybody concerned.

'I thought it was a fairly even-stevens game but I was confident if we could score early on in the second half, and I said this at half time, we would have a chance of winning it. It didn’t work out that way, it went on a wee bit before we got the equaliser.

'Young Gawley was outstanding. He did that job wide on the left, he’s got a great turn of pace and that’s what caused them problems and we were getting most of our joy in the first half from that side of the park. Of course he was on my side in the second half and we were able to help him – he was outstanding.

'A level of consistency is important in the Premier League if you are going to survive - you have to have this performance week in and week out. You can’t just turn it on when you feel you want to turn it on. Certainly today it was always going to be a very difficult game coming down here to pick up maximum points. Newry at times were very dangerous particularly with Curran on the wide right side and they caused us a problem. The players took a while to realise that they were playing a 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1, whatever you want to call it. There were two wide men dropping in and it took us a wee while to get to grips with that but we got it sorted and and we got on our bikes and I’m very pleased for everybody.'

Raymond Byrne: 'Very disappointed today. It was the same again: the goals that we gave away – two set pieces that we should really be defending better. We just don’t look as if we are going to score goals. We’re just missing that wee bit of quality up front that’s going to give you a goal. We’re creating chances every week but you have to put the ball in the back of the net to relieve a bit of pressure. At 1-0 you’re always worrying about the result at the end of the day. We just need somebody who can put the ball in the back of the net and take the pressure off the whole team but at the moment it’s just not really there.'