Blues cruise through in cup

GLENAVON 5

PORTSTEWART 1

GLENAVON had a nice, easy passage into the next round of the Co-Operative Insurance Cup during Saturday’s win over Portstewart.

The Championship 2 side came to Mourneview Park looking to make an impression – but that wasn’t the case at all as their lack of a game plan became apparent.

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Instead it was Glenavon’s class which told in the end, getting the job done professionally and without having to push out of first gear.

They were keen too to make an improvement on last year’s showing in the competition when they exited at the third round stage, losing 5-4 to Glentoran over two legs.

Of course the rules have now changed. There is only one leg to this year’s rounds and everything must be decided on the day. So any potential banana skin had to be avoided there and then – there are no more second chances in this competition.

The hosts made four changes to the team which lost in the 5-4 thriller at Seaview last week. Sammy Stewart, Adrian Harper and James Costello came into midfield with Mark Haughey joining Willo McDonagh in the centre of defence while Jay Magee, Conor Walsh and Tony Grant dropped to the bench with Ryan Harpur not in the squad.

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Portstewart boss, Gary Taylor will have enjoyed his day out in Lurgan though there was no doubt that Glenavon dominated throughout the 90 minutes.

Indeed they were in front after just four minutes, Mark Miskimmin side-footing home from Stewart’s pass after the visitors failed to deal with Stuart King’s cross.

King was at the heart of the action again on 13 minutes for the second goal. His free kick came off the head of Ryan McFadden in the Portstewart wall and looped over the top of goalkeeper Joel Maddison.

Ten minutes later it was 3-0 and two for Miskimmin as he glanced in a James Costello cross, completing his first brace since scoring on the opening day of the season.

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Trevor Molloy scored the fourth goal of the afternoon with a well crafted goal, moving in from the left and firing low with his right foot past Maddison on 64 minutes.

Stewart rounded off the scoring for the hosts on 81 minutes when he got on the end of Costello’s pass and slotted home with a neat finish.

But there was still time for Kris McNeill to score a consolation for Portstewart five minutes from the break, heading home from Bryan Tosh’s cross.

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