Dollingstown 1 Glenavon 3
Wednesday 2nd August 2023
Glenavon rounded off its pre-season programme with a comfortable 3-1 victory against neighbour Dollingstown.
Jamie Doran (7, 55 mins) and Jackson Nesbitt (36 mins) were the men on target for Gary Hamilton’s side. Daniel Gordon (63 mins) replied for the Dollybirds.
Sean Ward played for the full 90 minutes; Doran and Robbie Garrett played for 70 minutes; and Calum Birney played for 60 minutes.
Young Glenavon goalkeeper Ben Purvis played in goal for the home team.
Although Glenavon controlled the game and never looked like losing, Dollingstown played some good football and deserved its goal. Gary Hamilton’s teenage son, Calum, who has moved to Planter’s Park on loan, was introduced during the second half and showed some impressive touches.
Glenavon took an early lead when Robbie Garrett split the Dollybirds’ defence with an incisive pass and defender Daniel Neill collided with goalkeeper Purvis allowing Jamie Doran to steer the loose ball into an empty net.
Doran and Aaron Prendergast both shot wide from good positions. At the other end Gary Liggett and Stephen Flannagan also missed the target when well placed.
Jackson Nesbitt extended Glenavon’s lead when he completed a neat one-two with Prendergast and coolly slotted the ball into the net.
Dollingstown almost pulled a goal back when first Richard Thompson’s shot was deflected wide by Bobby Deane and then Daniel Gordon forced Josh Gracey to make a fine save.
Harry Lynch and Calum Birney both went close with right foot and headed efforts before the break.
Jamie Doran made the score 3-0 early in the second half when he collected an incisive pass by Trialist A, rounded the goalkeeper and manoeuvred the ball into the net.
Daniel Gordon pulled a goal back when he touched a left-wing cross into the net.
Cohen Henderson turned sharply but shot wide. Nesbitt also went close with an effort that was saved.
Dollingstown pushed forward in search of more goals. First, Calum Hamilton shot side. Then the 16 year oldfound Harry Adair with a crisp pass but the midfielder’s effort was saved.
GLENAVON: Gracey, Deane, Kerr, Ward, Birney, Garrett, Lynch, Trialist A, Doran, Prendergast, Nesbitt, SUBS: Henderson for Prendergast (half-time), Norton for Birney (61 mins), McCullough for Garrett (70 mins) and Trialist B for Doran (70 mins).
