Official Club Corporate Sponsors 2008-2011

© 2008 Glenavon Football Club

The content of this site, including images, may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without the express permission of the Webmaster

NOVEMBER 2006

25th November: WALSH A CRACKER!

Glentoran 2-2 Glenavon

In a game that few gave Glenavon any hope of taking something from, in fact the League leaders had to come from behind twice to deny the Lurgan Blues all three points. Glenavon were the better side in the first half with Neal Gawley getting a rare start and putting in an excellent display until he was stretchered off in the 24th minute with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Aaron Black had earlier failed a fitness test on a calf muscle injury so Colin Malone drafted in Conor McAnallen at right back with Gavin McDonnell moving to centre back. Conor Walsh returned to his best position in central midfield and once again he had an excellent game with the able support of Davy Hawthorne and Adrian Harper.

Neal Gawley gave Colin Nixon a torrid time until he was forced off with a badly twisted knee after just 24 minutes.

Paul Walsh came on as a like-for-like replacement for the unfortunate Gawley and would go on to score a spectacular 30 yard thunderbolt to restore Glenavon's lead after ex-Portadown pair Gary Hamilton and Peter McCann combined to equalise Davy Hawthorne's 44th minute strike.

Hawthorne's goal, his first for Glenavon, came courtesy of a shot from just outside the area that deflected off Glens skipper Paul Leeman and looped over Elliott Morris. Gerard McMahon had been quicker to react than Kyle Neill as Atiba Charles appeared to under hit a pass but McMahon got to the ball first and then ghosted past the full back before squaring the ball for Hawthorne to strike. The Blues midfielder was unlucky not to double the lead in first half stoppage time as his 18 yard left foot shot came back off the Glentoran bar.

Conor Walsh battles for the ball in midfield

Paul Millar replaced Jason Hill at half time, bringing on Peter McCann and it took only until the 52nd minute for the winger to pull his side back on level terms as he found himself unmarked in the six yard box as Gary Hamilton slid a low cross in from the left.

Paul Walsh then restored Glenavon's lead in the 74th minute with a wonderful strike from all of 30 yards into the top left corner with Morris left grasping at thin air as the young winger picked up a flick on from Nathan McConnell.

Hamilton was the provider again for the second equaliser five minutes later when he once again picked out a team mate in the six yard box. This time it was Kyle Neill with the simple task of sliding the ball into the net.

"I thought it was a very very good game of football and we played particularly well and we certainly played our part in the game and with a bit more luck we could have had the three points but I was pleased with everybody at the Club today. Everybody got behind us and the players were tremendous. The effort and commitment was brilliant and hopefully we can take a lot out of this game for the games that lie ahead. It's a good marker for us - we did particularly well against Linfield; we beat them (in the CIS Cup) and now we've taken a point down here at The Oval, and deservedly so.

"I was relieved to hear the final whistle but the lads certainly deserved it. I don't think we came here and stole the point; I thought we earned it. Our work rate was very very good and I was very pleased to get the point.

"The last ten minutes was obviously backs to the wall stuff and you have to expect that at The Oval, but up until that I though we played particularly well, kept the ball well and indeed in the first half I thought we finished the stronger side. We had some good chances throughout the game and I'm probably a wee bit disappointed in the way we gave away the goals to let them back into it but to come here and get a point is very very good."

18th November: REFF-ING SHAME!

Glenavon 0-1 Limavady United

The outcome of this game hinged on two crucial decisions by rookie referee Arnold Hunter. The first gave United the lead when he awarded a penalty for a challenge in the box by Conor Walsh on Stephen Lowry when it appeared as though no contact was made. Vincent Sweeney scored from the spot, with Rice diving the right way but unable to get a hand to the ball as it went in off the inside of his right hand post.

The second poor decision by Mr Hunter was ten minutes later when Nathan McConnell broke clear and was brought down by a high tackle by the Limavady keeper, Michael Doherty, who had rashly raced off his line. The tackle alone was worthy of a red card, never mind the denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity and whether or not another defender had got back was irrelevant but Mr Hunter only showed the yellow card. Doherty who, speaking after the match said "I thought I was off", also escaped a further caution later in the first half when he appeared to carry the ball outside his area.

Paul Rice had little to do in the home goals but Doherty went on to make a couple of crucial saves, one in particular in the 63rd minute when he tipped a looping shot from Gerard McMahon over the bar.

Glenavon controlled most of the possession but could not convert any of the chances they created and Limavady were always dangerous on the counter attack but they also failed to finish their chances.

Ten minutes from time Doherty again came off his line only for McConnell to nick the ball away from him and it took a goal line clearance by Smith to keep out the striker's effort with Doherty parrying a well struck follow up from the same player.

"Although I'm obviously extremely disappointed with the result, I thought we dominated territorial advantage and created the better chances but the goal from the penalty kick gave them something to defend. Conor (Walsh) is convinced it definitely wasn't a penalty - he's absolutely distraught about it. The player has conned him (the referee) and has said he's conned him - he just laughed! He knew he wasn't hit.

"The referee has decided who won the match today. I can't hide behind that though. It was a gutsy performance and we created chances but they weren't taken and that has cost us in the end. I've backed the boys there. I think they gave 100% and tried their eye-strings out to try and retrieve the situation but on the day things just didn't fall for them.

Referring to the incident when Doherty was not sent off for the foul on McConnell, Malone was incensed, "Not only did he take Nathan down but he nearly took him out. It was a two-footed tackle at knee height that took Nathan completely out. It was a straight red whatever way you saw it, whether he was the last man or not; there was no excuse for it but the ref has opted to give him a yellow card and the keeper then tells me he has stepped not a foot outside the box but two feet!"

"I've told the players to keep their heads up because there will be weeks when we won't play as well and we'll get a result. Next week against Glentoran we've every chance of getting it because we create chances - we are a team that does create. Next week we'll not have as much of the ball as we did today.

"It's difficult when teams are given something to hold onto they basically just camp outside the eighteen and its very very difficult to try and get in behind them. We tried everything: we had two out and out wingers on and we went three at the back. We still created chances but we didn't take them and that's the bottom line."

TRIANGLE PRESENT CHEQUE TO GLENAVON

The Triangle Supporters Club presented a cheque to Glenavon Chairman Sam Gardiner after the match on Saturday.

CONOR BAGS AWARD

Allen Gamble of Allen Gamble Windows presents Conor Walsh with his September Player of the Month Award

11th November: UNBEATEN RUN ENDS

Glenavon 1-2 Newry City

Glenavon's four match unbeaten run came to an end with this defeat thanks to another two goals from Newry's in-form striker Karl Bermingham. The 21 year old made it four goals in just three starts for City with a goal in either half at Mourneview.

Nathan McConnell wins the ball in the air.

Colin Malone was forced to shuffle his pack with the absence of Aidan McVeigh through a knee injury. He recalled Conor Walsh and Gavin McDonnell and pushed Davy Hawthorne up front alongside McConnell. This allowed him to retain Marty Hunter in a central midfield position and, like last week, the former Ards man once again had an excellent game.

Bermingham opened the scoring midway through the first half from Damian Curran's out swinging corner. Ian Curran rose to meet the ball at the back post but his downward header didn't appear to pose much danger yet it somehow evaded the grasp of Glenavon keeper Paul Rice and Bermingham poked it over the line.

Glenavon finished the first half strongly with Conor Walsh stretching to get a toe to Ross Black's great through ball but, though he steered it past the keeper, it also curled just wide of the goal. McMahon also smashed a powerful shot inches wide after he ran onto Hawthorne's flick.

Glenavon was disappointing in the second half with little threat to the visitor's goal and it was no real surprise when Bermingham doubled the lead. The ball was lost carelessly from Glenavon's own free kick and a ball down the left allowed Ward to beat the offside flag. Rice came off his line and got a hand to the ball but was unable to get a hold of the rebound. This allowed Ward to square the ball to Bermingham and, with Rice stranded, he slotted it past a helpless Aaron Black on the goal line.

Former Glenavon winger Kevin Keegan came on for the visitor's and spurned a good chance to seal the win when he again broke the offside line down the left but his shot hit the side netting with only Rice to beat. Glenavon sub Neal Gawley hit the post with a header in injury time and then won a penalty when he was tripped by King as he got on to the rebound. Though Gerard McMahon blasted the penalty home it was just too little too late for a Glenavon side that must have started the game in a confident mood. With a series of games against teams in the leading league positions coming up soon, Colin Malone will have to work hard to get his side in the right frame of mind for next week's home encounter against Limavady.

"We played well in the first half and it basically went according to plan but we are still giving away a goal. There were a couple of mistakes: Gavin put a ball out for a corner which he could easily have allowed to run on and then the ball drops into the six yard box and it was obviously the keeper's ball but it ended up in our net.

"I wasn't too disheartened at 1-0 down. I thought there was always more going to come from us and we would put them under a good bit of pressure in the second half.

"I was particularly disappointed with the way we defended in the second half. It was very very poor; it looked casual, lethargic. There were free kicks and we were tapping to each other two feet away and getting caught. Even before we could get the ball in to the front men we were giving it away at the back all too cheaply.

"The second goal sort of killed it and we wilted and didn't push on the way we could have and should have in the second half.

"I've had a go at the players. Defensively it was a very disappointing performance in that we've given away the two goals. We were all too casual at the back. Newry got their just rewards, they worked hard and got onto our back line very quick and closed them down. In a match where we were looking for the three points that would have taken us above them at the end of the day we've got nothing because we defended very poorly."

9th November: CLUB NEWS UPDATE

Aidan McVeigh's knee injury is more serious than at first thought and if, as suspected, he has ligament damage, he could be out of action for some time. The full extent of the damage will not be known for a couple of weeks. This is unfortunate for the young striker who had begun to form a good partnership up front with Nathan McConnell.

Colin Malone has signed striker Stephen McGuinness who has been released by Lurgan Celtic. The 29 year old, who is 5' 10", scored 31 goals for our neighbours last season and is a member of the current NI Junior International team that recently qualified for the UEFA Regions Cup.

The draw for the first round of the Rushmere Shopping Centre sponsored Mid-Ulster Cup has been announced. Glenavon have been handed a home tie against Killymoon Rangers, to be played on Tuesday 28th November, kick off time to be confirmed.

NEW SIGNING

Colin Malone last Thursday night signed ex-Sheffield United midfielder Adrian Harper but the 21 year old was not eligible for Saturday's game as his clearance did not come through in time.

Adrian Harper had an impressive game with the Reserves on Wednesday night.

The young Dubliner, who joined the Blades as a sixteen year old apprentice and progressed to sign as a full time professional, was out of contract at Bramall Lane. Captain of the reserves, he also featured in a number of first team pre-season games. A versatile player, he can play at full back, central midfield or as a supporting player behind the strikers.

Adrian Harper's International Clearance has been authorised.

4th November: REALLY IT'S NATHAN!

Thanks to this third consecutive league victory, Glenavon moved up another couple of places in the table, level on points with Newry, Dungannon Swifts and today's opponents Coleraine.

Incidentally, the last time Glenavon won three consecutive League games in the top division was in September and October of the 2001-2002 season: 5-1 v Omagh (H), 3-1 v Linfield (A) and 2-1 v Ards (H). The sequence was broken with a 1-1 draw at home to Newry followed by four straight defeats. Colin Malone will not be wanting history repeating itself, with Newry, by a strange coincidence, the visitors next week!

The foundation for the victory was laid with a fine first half double from Nathan McConnell who has now scored five goals, all in the league, for his side.

His first came thanks to a fabulous left foot volley from Gerard McMahon on the edge of the 'D' that O'Hare did brilliantly to turn onto the post but McConnell was the first to react as he stabbed the rebound past the helpless Bannsider's keeper.

Earlier the home side had gone close on a couple of occasions, the first after Rice had failed to hold Boyce's downward header and Cassidy fired a left foot shot over from the rebound. Tommy McCallion was then denied by a block by Ross Black that deflected his 18 yard shot over after good work on the left by Boyce.

It was a fancy dress day at Coleraine for the Glenavon fans who once again really got behind the team and helped spur them on to victory.

McConnell's opener came in the 23rd minute when a Glenavon free kick up to the edge of the Coleraine box dropped for McMahon and he wasted no time in striking a sweet left foot shot that O'Hare palmed onto his right hand post only for the ex-Cliftonville striker to pounce on the rebound.

He doubled his tally when his left foot finish from Walsh's cross left the Coleraine keeper with no chance. In between O'Hare denied Aidan McVeigh with his legs after the striker was played in by a great through ball from young Walsh.

Coleraine pulled a goal back three minutes before the break when Stephen Carson glanced a header inside the far post from Boyce's corner.

In the second half the hosts never really produced the expected onslaught and Neal Gawley, a first half substitute for Aidan McVeigh, essentially sealed the victory with a brilliant 75th minute left foot strike following an excellent pass by fellow substitute Paul McKnight. Gawley could have made doubly sure less than a minute later when Atiba Charles ventured forward and picked him out with a decent near post cross but the young winger fired his shot into the side netting.

A long ball caught the Glenavon defence square three minutes from time but Rice got a hand to Gaston's strike with Ross Black on hand to clear off the line before McKnight somehow put his shot wide after doing all the hard work in a quick Glenavon break that should have seen the visitors making it four.

"That was a big result. I thought today's game was one of our better games. I thought, football wise, we played very very well today, especially in the second half when they started to push on to us. Some of our play breaking out of defence was excellent.

"People coming off the bench and working hard; it just shows you players can come in and do a job, even if it is 15 or 20 minutes. I thought that, today, the substitutions probably won us the game. People were tiring and injuries were coming in.

"We thoroughly deserved the three points and it was a very big and positive result for Glenavon. They had two good chances early on which they didn't capitalise on but then we hit back with the goals and we should have had maybe four. They got the goal back and got their heads up so I had to remind the lads at half time about what happened at Ballymena when we were in a similar position. The important thing was to drive on and learn from the past; not let the same mistakes happen again and today they didn't. They took the game by the scruff of the neck.

"Today all the best players were in white jerseys. The defence was excellent: it's a funny thing to say but Aaron Black, since he's lost the captaincy, has been a revelation. He's been absolutely outstanding and today's performance again was magnificent. I thought we looked solid at the back. Okay we had a few players tiring but then you've Stevie McAlorum coming in and doing the excellent job he did. I was really pleased and delighted for the players today."