Glenavon slump to home defeat

Glenavon slumped to a home defeat as Dungannon Swifts again found Mourneview Park a happy hunting ground.

Two goals in two minutes gave the visitors all three points in a game littered with missed chances by both teams.

The Swifts almost grabbed the lead on three minutes when Josh Barton burst clear but with James McGrath dashing out he sliced his shot well wide.

Barton had the next effort on goal a minute later but his 20 yard shot was easily gathered by the Glenavon stopper.

Glenavon carved out their first chance when Andy McGrory ran across the face of goal and slipped the ball back for Guy Bates but he lashed his effort wide.

The opening goal came on nine minutes and it was former Glenavon striker Gary Liggett who hit the target with a close range header from Barton’s early cross. The home side suffered another blow two minutes later when Liggett ran past McGrath and eventually centred for Barton who scuffed his shot but it beat Kyle Neill on the line.

Harpur pulled the trigger again on 15 minutes but this time McGrath got both hands to the ball to make the save.

Andy McGrory looked certain to score when he pounced on a mistake by the Swifts but his well struck shot was blocked.

Then Bates had a great chance when stretched out a boot to reach a nod on from Lindsay but Coleman got down to make the save.

As Glenavon enjoyed their best spell in the game Bradley found some space on the edge of the box and fired in a left foot shot which Coleman parried and the lose ball was cleared.

Glenavon had two great chances just before the break, first McGrory made a hash of a cross from Mulvenna from just a few yards out and then Bradley burst clear only to fire straight at Coleman.

Gary Hamilton came on for the start of the second half in place of Mulvenna and the Blues did apply some pressure on the Swifts forcing three successive corners.

The first chance of the second half came on 60 minutes with Braniff rolling the ball to Rhys Marshall who ran on and drilled a shot which Coleman got down to.

Gary Ligget should have added third for the Swifts when a free kick came off the wall and into his feet a few yards form goal but he blasted high over the bar.

Adam Foley made his competitive debut for Glenavon on 68 minutes when he came off the bench for Kilmartin and he almost set up a goal for the Lurgan Blues when he flicked the ball to McGrory but his shot went straight at Coleman.

Andy Hoey was introduced on 80 minutes but it was the Swifts who should have scored again when sub Andy Mitchell lifted the ball over the bar from a yard out.

Glenavon kept pressing with Foley heading over and then Bates flashing a shot wide.

In the end Dungannon secured a more than comfortable victory even with the luxury of missing a number of gilt edged chances.

Then Glackin broke for the Swifts but with only McGrath to beat he opted to shoot from 18 yards out and missed the target.

Glenavon: McGrath, Neill, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Bates, Bradley, Dillon, McGrory, Marshall, Braniff, Mulvenna. Subs: McCallion, Hamilton, Foley, Hoey, Blackledge.