Glenavon FC U20s 6–1 Cliftonville FC U20s

Glenavon U20s welcomed Cliftonville FC U20s to Mourneview Park on Monday evening.

Our U20s had a stronger panel of players to choose from this week, as several senior players needed minutes to keep up their match fitness.

It was also great to be able to give 2008 Academy player Christopher Atherton a start for his 20s debut.

The first half started at a high pace with Cliftonville creating the early chances. The first goal was scored on the 13th minute when the young Cliftonville forward capitalised on a poor pass along the backline to put Cliftonville 1-0 up.

Glenavon responded on the 24th minute as Michael O’Connor finished well from the penalty spot, when some good play on the right side resulted in a penalty when Garrett was brought down in the box.

The Lurgan Blues went ahead on the half-hour mark when Bobby Harvey cut in from the left side and curled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards.

Five minutes later it was 3-1 when Jamie Doran scored after good play on the right side of the pitch.

The second half was a very controlled performance from Glenavon as they added three more goals. The fourth goal came from the penalty spot again when Josh Doyle was brought down in the box. Jamie Doran stepped up to score his second of the game.

On the 83rd minute Jamie rounded off his hat-trick with Glenavon’s fifth goal when Luca McGreevey showed good strength to hold off the Cliftonville defender and lay off a good ball for Jamie to run onto and finish well.

The final and sixth goal of the game came on the 88th minute when Robbie Morrow’s controlled touch set himself up on the edge of the box to curl his shot away from the keeper into the top corner of the net.

TEAM: B. Purvis, S. Carey, B. Harvey, M. Haughey, H. Lynch, M. O’Connor, R. Garrett, J. Doran, C. Atherton, A. Prendergast, J. Doyle. Subs: D. Brown, L. Corr, J. Harvey, R. Morrow, L. McGreevey.