GLENAVON DEFEATS COLERAINE AT THE SHOWGROUNDS 1s1866
Coleraine 0 Glenavon 2 1ij17
Sports Direct Irish Premiership 6p2b29
The Showgrounds, Ballycastle Road, Coleraine
Saturday 24th August 2024
Glenavon produced one of its best away performances of recent seasons to shock Coleraine and collect three vital Sports Direct Premiership points.
Goals at the start of each half by David McDaid (2 mins) and Keith Ward (48 mins) coupled with outstanding defending were the foundation for the unexpected win.
Goalkeeper Gareth Deane and central defenders Barney McKeown and Harry Lynch were stand-out performers. However, it would be churlish to overlook the contribution made by the goalscorers and many others. All in all, a fine team display.
Glenavon took the lead with its first meaningful attack. Niall Quinn released Len O’Sullivan on the left. When the talented left back’s low cross was partially cleared, the former Linfield defender drilled the ball towards goal and McDaid flicked it into the net with his heel. Coleraine appealed for an offside flag, but none was raised.
The early goal lifted the visitors. For ten minutes they dominated possession and looked dangerous with every attack. Matthew Snoddy, who worked tirelessly in midfield for the entire game, shot wide from distance.
However, gradually the Bannsiders gained a foothold. Jack Scott’s 11th minute corner-kick caused mayhem in the Glenavon defence. Cameron Stewart’s header was brilliantly clawed away by Gareth Deane. Stewart’s follow-up effort was partially blocked by a defender and skidded inches wide of a post. When the second corner was played short, Scott crossed deep to the back post. Deane did well to flick the ball clear from under the crossbar.
Coleraine controlled large parts of the remainder of the half. Deane saved easily from both Jamie McGonigle and Rhyss Campbell. Dylan Boyle shot wide from distance.
At the other end Ward set Doona free on the left but James failed to hit the target.
In the 31st minute Gareth Deane took centre stage for a second time. Marshall and Lynch went for the same ball but neither made . Coleraine moved it quickly to McGonigle on the left. When he crossed low, MacKenzie Carse drilled a right foot shot back across the face of goal. Deane, who was moving to his left, somehow managed to adjust his position and stop the attempt with his right hand. It was an outstanding save.
Moments later Rhys Marshall, perhaps injured in the initial effort to stem Coleraine’s attacking surge, was withdrawn. Davjd Toure replaced him in the right-back position.
Just before half-time Glenavon threatened again when Quinn, who had an excellent first 45 minutes, backheeled the ball to Doona but Rory Brown intercepted his low shot from 15 yards.
Three minutes into the second half, the visitors extended their lead. Lyndon Kane misplaced a . Keith Ward collected the loose ball and hastened towards goal. Initially he looked to make a but when none was on, checked back and hit a deadly accurate right foot shot past Brown.
Soon afterwards David McDaid had a half-chance to make the score 3-0 but, from an acute angle, shot wildly over.
At the other end, Dean Jarvis headed wide from Jack Scott’s corner-kick.
Peter Campbell, who worked hard both defensively and offensively, saw a shot easily saved. David Toure, supplied by Ward, shot inches over the crossbar.
Midway through the half Barney McKeown squandered Glenavon’s best scoring chance of the half. When Campbell’s header from a corner-kick was saved, the big centre half blazed over from close range.
Coleraine, despite having lots of possession and constantly working the ball from side to side in front of the visitors’ defence, did not threaten until the final ten minutes.
When Dylan Boyle let fly from the edge of the penalty area, Deane dived full length to save.
In the closing seconds substitute Ciaran Harkin shot over from a free kick on the edge of the penalty-area.
But it was Glenavon’s day.
The small coterie of travelling ers, including those who had provided vocal encouragement for the entire 90 minutes, cheered and applauded Stephen McDonnell and his players.
COLERAINE: Brown, Kane, Jarvis, Boyle, Stewart, R. Campbell, Scott, Spence, Carse, McClelland, McGonigle, SUBS: Little (not used), Kelly (not used), Harkin for Carse (68 mins), McLaughlin for Scott (58 mins), Gaston for Spence (68 mins), Devine (not used), Burns (not used).
Yellow Cards: Boyle (32’).
GLENAVON: Deane, Marshall, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Lynch, Snoddy, Quinn, Ward, McDaid, P. Campbell, Doona, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Toure for Marshall (34 mins), Atherton (not used), Carroll for Ward (71 mins), O’Connor for McDaid (71 mins), Doran for Quinn (66 mins), Wilson (not used).
Yellow Cards: None.
REFEREE: Ross Dunlop.
