Glens finish in eighth place in league

The Blues put in an improved performance when compared to recent Carling Premiership outings and brought an end to their run of four straight league defeats.

Ryan Harpur and James Costello came into the Blues’ starting line-up with Rory Hamill dropping the bench and Tony Grant unable to attend due to family commitments.

The game couldn’t have started much better for Marty Quinn’s men as they took the lead on five minutes through Stuart King. Or Trevor Molloy depending on which of the players you talk to.

King struck an in-swinging free-kick into the danger zone and Molloy leapt up, appearing to just miss the ball with his attempted header but it bounced up and into the corner of the net, beating Ballymena goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson. Both players wheeled away in celebration but the club announcer gave the goal to King, much to Molloy’s evident displeasure.

Former Ballymena midfielder King could have got another four minutes later but his left wing cross-cum-shot was well kept out by the back-pedalling Nelson.

Glenavon enjoyed the majority of the play in the first half but a major lapse on 13 minutes could and should have led to an equaliser. Jay Magee lost the ball to the immensely talented Michael Smith on the right wing from where he squared to Kevin Kelbie. However the striker’s first touch was slack with the goal gaping and Brendan Shannon nipped in to clear the danger.

Back at the other end, James Costello’s right wing cross found Trevor Molloy free in the box but his first time effort was straight at Nelson making for a routine save.

After Mark Surgenor had nicked a header wide and Michael Smith had scuffed a 20 yard effort off target for Ballymena, Kevin Kelbie found the equaliser. A neat piece of play by early substitute Darren Lockhart beat both Brendan Shannon and Eamon Murray at the corner flag and a perfect cross followed, leaving Kelbie the simple task of nodding a header down into the goal from close range.

Time was left for Conor Walsh to hook a back post shot from Stuart King’s cross into the side netting and so the sides went in level at the break but at least Blues fans had an improved performance to discuss over their half-time burgers.

The away side began the second half the stronger but it was to be a period of relatively few chances.

Eamon Murray missed the best opportunity for the home side to re-establish their lead on 62 minutes when Stuart King’s left wing cross was met by the former Linfield man six yards out but he could only head against the bar.

A minute later the winger was down at the other end preventing Ballymena from going ahead. Mark Surgenor’s neat through ball to Michael Smith allowed the midfielder to strike across goal past Andy Plummer but Murray was on hand to clear the danger, whether the shot was creeping in at the back post or not.

Andy Plummer then made two saves of his own when James McLaughlin’s header from Gavin Taggart’s cross was well tipped wide before Surgenor’s headed effort also had to be kept out by the goalkeeper.

For Glenavon, James Costello put in a good, low left-wing cross towards Ryan Harpur but the midfielder just couldn’t stretch to prod it home whilst under pressure from a Ballymena defender.

Surgenor again took the game to Glenavon and almost put his side ahead on 86 minutes when he ran from the halfway-line, wasn’t closed down by the defence and unleashed a dipping effort over Plummer’s dive and agonisingly off the crossbar.

Jay Magee tried a speculative effort of his own for the home side two minutes later but his driven 40 yard effort flew narrowly wide of the top corner.

The last kick of the Carling Premiership season for these sides then came from Gary Muir as he tried to find a winner for Ballymena but his 20 yard effort flew way over the bar and referee, Mark Courtney brought Glenavon’s frustrating season to a close.

Glenavon: Plummer, Shannon, Magee, Murray (Hamill 79), Walsh, Molloy (Liggett 87), King, Haughey, Costello, Davey, Harpur. Unused Subs: Murphy, Carvill, Gracey

Ballymena United: Nelson, Ramsey (Lockhart 30), Stewart, Haveron, Al. Watson, M. Smith, Muir, Taggart, A. Smith (McLaughlin 46), Kelbie, Surgenor. Unused Subs: McConnell, Lemon.