Plummer leaks two as Blues draw

BALLYCLARE COMRADES 2

GLENAVON 2

ANOTHER goalkeeping horror show from Andrew Plummer left Glenavon with an underwhelming 2-2 draw away at Ladbrokes.com Championship One side Ballyclare Comrades.

It was a poor goalkeeping performance that led to the two conceded goals and as the Premiership side never really dominated their plucky opponents, they could even have come out with a defeat had the referee not wrongly awarded a penalty kick for a fantastic challenge on Mark Miskimmin, which led to the Blues’ second goal.

Triallist Philip Trainor started the game alongside Tony Grant up front and looked very lively, showing great pace and looking more than capable of beating defenders.

However, despite that attacking threat, the Blues didn’t look as competent at the other end of the pitch and fell behind to an early Stuart McCullough goal. Scott Irvine hoofed a long free-kick into Glenavon’s penalty area where Plummer missed the ball leaving the defender to head into the empty net.

Ballyclare did also look organised in defence and proved difficult to break down but shortly before the break, the eager Adrian Harper levelled the scoring to complete a well-worked move. Brendan Shannon played a low ball into the feet of Tony Grant and the striker did well to tee up Harper whose finish nestled into the bottom corner.

Glenavon made a host of changes at the break but still failed to produce many real chances.

Barry Johnston had a deflected effort routinely saved shortly after the restart but the Blues then failed to really threaten the Ballyclare stopper apart from the rather fortunate penalty kick. With Miskimmin well placed in the area, a defender appeared to make a perfect sliding tackle to win the ball but the referee’s view was very different and he pointed straight to the spot. Miskimmin himself stepped up and confidently slammed the ball into the left side of the net.

The Blues should have gone on to win from there but Ballyclare stormed back to equalise soon after. Mark Hadden found himself free on the right wing and tried a rather hopeful low effort but caught Plummer unawares and it snuck past the keeper at the near post.

The home side could even have won it, as their substitute striker was found free in the area from a right wing cross. However he completely lost his cool and fired over from 10 yards out, much to the relief of Marty Quinn and the travelling supporters.

It was a less than accomplished Glenavon performance but Mark Miskimmin always looked like creating an opening up front whilst Tony Grant worked hard and Adrian Harper added his trademark tenacity in central midfield.

GLENAVON – Plummer, Shannon, McDonagh, Magee (Haughey 46), Neill (Turkington 67), King (Costello 46), Harper (Harpur 46), Walsh (Johnston 46), Molloy, Grant (Miskimmin 46), Trainor (Campbell 61).

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