Result: Glenavon 4-0 Carrick Rangers

Match highlights – courtesy BBC Sport NI.

Apologies for the lack of updates during the game today as we were having some technical issues with the internet at MVP 🙁

Paddy McCourt made his home debut but had to come off just before half time with a slight calf strain.

Paddy McCourt strides forward with the ball. Photo by Alan Weir.

After a fairly lack-lustre first half Glenavon turned on the style in the second period and, after Rhys Marshall opened the scoring three minutes after the restart, further goals by Joel Cooper, a second from Marshall again and Mark Patton sealed what in the end was a comfortable win. It could have been a different story if former Glenavon player Brian McCaul had put away the best chance of the first 45 minutes but once Glenavon got their noses in front early in the second period the result never looked in doubt.

17: Joel Cooper cuts inside onto his right foot and his low shot is turned round the post by Brian Neeson.

18: Kris Lindsay replaces Simon Kelly who seems to have picked up a hamstring injury.

32: Paddy McCourt curls a 30 yard free kick narrowly wide.

Declan O’Brien holds off former team-mate Gareth McKeown. Photo by Alan Weir.

33: Best chance of the game so far falls to Carrick as Brian McCaul shows a great touch to bring Gareth McKeown’s free kick down 8 yards out but he lashes his shot well over the bar.

48: 1-0 Rhys Marshall takes a throw in on the right and picks up the ball from Declan O’Brien’s layoff to him on the right side of the box. He carries the ball across the edge of the area before cutting back onto his right and smashing a shot into the top corner from the centre of the ‘D’ leaving Brian Neeson rooted to the spot.

Rhys Marshall lifts Mark Sykes aloft after opening the scoring in the 48th minute. Photo by Brian Bain.

73: 2-0 Joel Cooper fires a low drive across Neeson and into the bottom corner. This time it was Guy Bates with the lay-off, releasing Cooper to run into the box and fire left-footed across the Carrick keeper.

Joel Cooper’s shot hits the bottom corner! Photo by Alan Weir.

Joel Cooper celebrates with Guy Bates after making it 2-0. Photo by Brian Bain.

76: 3-0 Marshall powers a header past Neeson from a pin-point cross by sub Andy Hall

Gary Hamilton congratulates Rhys Marshall after he made it 3-0. Photo by Brian Bain.

88: 4-0 Mark Patton picks up a pass out to the left from Guy Bates before cutting inside and smashing a left foot shot past the helpless Carrick keeper.