Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 6^th December 2025

Glenavon suffered its first home defeat since early October when Bangor plundered a 2-1 victory.

Ben Arthurs (31, 42 mins) scored both goals for the Seasiders. Jack Malone (7 mins) was on target for Michael O’Connor’s side.

The Lurgan men could have taken the lead as early as the third minute when Niall Quinn’s long forward pass found Corey Smith inside the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat. The Coleraine loanee took the ball around Patrick Grogan but he was immediately challenged by defender Reece Neale and the opportunity was gone.

Four minutes later Glenavon took the lead. Malone found Campbell on the left and the Richhill man passed to Oran O’Kane who delivered a fine swinging cross to the back post for the former Derry City midfielder to bundle the ball into the net.

Malone, always a threat, saw a tame shot saved easily. Then, in the 21^st minute he unloaded a fine right attempt which Grogan dived full length to save.

Moments later the Lurgan Blues’ talisman, Peter Campbell, left the field with what might be a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury which sidelined him for the first three months of the season.

Bangor should have equalised when Stephen McGuinness and Ben Arthurs combined to release Ben Cushnie. The number ten, with only Byrne to beat, blazed high and wide.

When McGuinness crossed from the left and goalkeeper Mark Byrne bundled into Michael Morgan while punching the ball clear, referee Shane Andrews pointed to the penalty spot. Glenavon’s players protested against the decision but their complaints were ignored.

Centre forward Ben Arthurs took the kick and confidently slotted the ball into the net.

Malone shot wide with his left foot.

The visitors took the lead after Cushnie found Morgan via a fortunate deflection off Harry Murphy and the striker crossed with his right foot for the unmarked Arthurs to head the ball past Byrne.

Early in the second half Cushnie hit the crossbar with a speculative shot from distance.

Three minutes later the number ten shot well wide at the far post.

Paul McGovern twisted and turned on the edge of Bangor’s penalty area before shooting inches wide.

Glenavon appealed in vain for a penalty when McGuinness upended Jordan McMullan on the edge of the 18 yard box. The resultant free kick came to nothing.

Arthurs almost stretched the visitors’ lead when he found space between Murphy and substitute Kyle McClelland and hit a right foot shot which Byrne stopped with his body.

During the last thirty minutes the home side, despite dominating possession, did not manage a worthwhile goal attempt.

GLENAVON: Byrne, McMullan, Quinn, P. Burns, Murphy, O’Kane, McKeown, Malone, Smith, Campbell, McGovern, SUBS: Hamill (not used), McClelland for McKeown (74 mins), Wilson (not used), Kee for Campbell (23 mins), Bosakani for Smith (74 mins), McGerrigan for Quinn (85 mins), McShane (not used).

Yellow Cards: None.

BANGOR: Grogan, Neale, McGuinness, Owens, Harrison, Lynch, Francis, Devlin, Arthurs, Cushnie, Morgan, SUBS: McMahon (not used), Haughey for Morgan (71 mins), Mathieson (not used), Garrett for Cushnie (71 mins), Boyd for Arthurs (90 mins), L. Burns (not used), Mitchell (not used).

Yellow Cards: McGuinness (63’), Devlin (71’), Lynch (90+3’).Garrett (90+5’).

REFEREE: Shane Andrews (Comber).