GLENAVON LOSES TO CARRICK ON OPENING DAY
Carrick Rangers 2 Glenavon 0
Sports Direct Irish Premiership
Loughview Leisure Arena, Taylor’s Avenue, Carrickfergus
Saturday 10th August 2024
Carrick Rangers scored two first half goals to comfortably defeat Glenavon on the opening Saturday of the new Premiership season.
Curtis Allen (16 mins) and Nedas Maciulaitis (32 mins) were the men on target for Stuart King’s side.
Despite fielding new signings Rhys Marshall, Keith Ward and David McDaid Glenavon was vulnerable defensively and created virtually nothing in attack.
Carrick might have taken the lead as early as the 2nd minute when Cameron Stewart headed Joe Crowe’s corner kick over the crossbar from 8 yards.
The home side opened the scoring fourteen minutes later. Crowe’s corner was headed down by Luke McCullough and Allen nodded the ball into the roof of the net from 3 yards.
McCullough almost made it 2-0 when, from another corner, he shot from 6 yards forcing Gareth Deane to save well at the foot of a post.
In the 29th minute Maciulaitis released Allen with an incisive pass but the one-time Glentoran and Coleraine centre forward’s instinctive shot hit a post and was cleared.
Three minutes later the home side doubled its advantage. Maciulaitis dispossessed Mark Haughey and ran through to round Deane and coolly slot the ball into the net.
Glenavon worked hard in the first half but offered little attacking threat. Its only hopeful moments came from two excellent crosses by James Doona. The first eluded everyone whilst the second fell to the feet of Keith Ward. The League of Ireland veteran took an extra touch and the chance to shoot was gone.
Although the Lurgan men produced an improved second half display, they were unable to reduce the arrears. Indeed, it was Carrick which continued to produce the best scoring chances.
Danny Gibson had a clear sight of goal 8 yards out but elected to pull the ball back and McCullough shot wide.
At the other end a Matthew Snoddy effort was blocked. Peter Campbell’s follow-up attempt failed to trouble Ross Glendinning.
With seven minutes remaining Carrick substitute Paul Heatley burst clear on the left. The former Crusaders frontman elected to pass rather than shoot, but Danny Gibson blazed over at the back post.
In the 90th minute Michael O’Connor flicked James Doona’s free kick inches over the crossbar with his head.
Moments later Len O’Sullivan hit the base of a post from 6 yards; Peter Campbell saw two close-range efforts blocked and, finally, Kurtis Forsythe cleared the ball off the line from O’Sullivan’s follow-up effort. How did the visitors fail to score?
Overall, a very disappointing Glenavon performance.
CARRICK RANGERS: Glendinning, Forsythe, Stewart, Watson, Allen, Maciulaitis, McCullough, Buchanan-Rolleston, Clucas, Crowe, Gibson, SUBS: McCauley (not used), Surgenor for Crowe (74 mins), McGuckin for Allen (82 mins), Kalla (not used), Andrews (not used), Cherry for Clucas (82 mins), Heatley for Maciulaitis (68 mins).
Yellow Cards: Stewart (44’).
GLENAVON: Deane, Toure, O’Sullivan, Marshall, Haughey. Snoddy, McDaid, Campbell, Quinn, Doona, Ward, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Lynch (not used), Carroll for Toure (54 mins), O’Connor for Ward (54 mins), Doran for McDaid (71 mins), Hamilton (not used), McGerrigan (not used).
Yellow Cards: Carroll (76’).
REFEREE: Declan Hassan.
