GLENAVON RUES MISSED CHANCES AT THE OVAL 2w5g3u
Glentoran 0 Glenavon 0 6zi5z
Sports Direct Irish Premiership 6p2b29
The BetMcLean Oval, Belfast
Saturday 28th September 2024
Another defensive masterclass saw Glenavon earn a deserved point against Glentoran. However, Stephen McDonnell’s men left the Oval rueing three missed second half chances.
The visitors, with James Doona restored to the starting line-up, ceded possession for long periods but always looked dangerous on the counterattack.
In the opening minutes David McDaid shot straight at Daniel Gyollai and then dragged a shot wide of a post.
Glentoran’s first goal attempt did not come until the 26th minute when James Singleton hooked the ball well over the crossbar from 12 yards.
Peter Campbell had a shot blocked following a cross by Doona.
In the 42nd minute Danny Amos’ free kick was eventually headed out of the six-yard box by the excellent Harry Lynch.
Minutes late Lynch’s header under pressure from a defender following a James Doona free kick was easily saved by Gyollai.
The home side offered more of an attacking threat during the second half.
Frankie Hvid’s header from a corner was saved easily by Deane.
Fuad Sule shot high and wide following a third Glentoran corner-kick in as many minutes.
At the other end James Doona miskicked when well placed following a Keith Ward cross and, from an acute angle, Barney McKeown blasted the loose ball over the crossbar.
In the 72nd minute Glenavon squandered the first of its three gilt-edged scoring chances. When Gyollai dived to his left to save Ward’s well struck free kick, James Carroll pounced on the loose ball. However, the Glentoran keeper saved again. Finally, Barney McKeown was unable to beat the custodian with a further close-range effort. How did the ball stay out?
In the 77th minute Sule threaded the ball to Lyons-Foster who was in space inside the penalty area. However, Glenavon substitute Niall Quinn intercepted the low cross and Deane dived on the loose ball.
A minute later James Singleton released Jay Donnelly on the left. The striker turned inside Harry Lynch, but his right foot shot was saved by Deane.
In the 82nd minutes Singleton, under pressure from a defender, headed Amos’s corner kick wide at the back post.
Three minutes later Glenavon failed to convert the best scoring opportunity of the match. Substitute Jamie Doran released Harry Lynch with a fine . The 18-year-old defender found himself in the clear with only Gyollai to beat. However, his shot lacked conviction, and the custodian saved the ball with a flailing hand.
As the game moved into added time, Jordan Jenkins’ attempted an ambitious snapshot from distance. His attempt flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
In the final seconds Glenavon spurned its third gilt-edged opportunity. When Rhys Marshall crossed from the right Michael O’Connor, unmarked at the near post, failed to make a clean connection with his head and the ball flew harmlessly wide.
GLENTORAN: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane, Hvid, Sule, Connolly, Palmer, Parfitt, Fisher, Amos, Singleton, SUBS: Mills (not used), Donnelly for Parfitt (57 mins), Jenkins for Connolly (63 mins), Lindsay (not used), Russell (not used), Douglas (not used), Thorndike for Lyons-Foster (86 mins).
Yellow Card: Donnelly (71’).
GLENAVON: Deane, Toure, O’Sullivan, McKeown, Carroll, Lynch, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Doona, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Marshall for Snoddy (69 mins), Quinn for Toure (57 mins), O’Connor for McDaid (69 mins), Doran for Doona (79 mins), Ward for Campbell (57 mins), Atherton (not used).
Yellow Cards: Marshall (87’), O’Connor (90+4’).
REFEREE: Ian McNabb.
