Too many missed chances in first defeat of season

GLENAVON only had themselves to blame for the 2-0 defeat to Ballymena last Friday night.

The Blues had the majority of play at Mourneview Park but despite a host of goalscoring opportunities, failed to find the net.

On the other hand, Ballymena had very few chances but looked clinical in front of goal and so handed Marty Quinn’s men their first defeat of the Carling Premiership campaign.

Quinn made just one change to the team that had beaten Donegal Celtic with Conor Walsh coming in for Barry Johnston. However, it took just eight minutes for the Blues to fall behind. The ever-talented Ballymena right-winger Michael Smith’s long range effort was blocked but still found its way through to Gary McCutcheon and the former Portadown striker did well to loop his header over Andy Plummer and into the corner of the net. The Glenavon support had suspicions of offside but the officials didn’t agree and the goal stood.

The Braidmen had much of the possession in the opening 25 minutes but they didn’t create a whole host of chances with Denver Gage heading Nathan Hanley’s right wing cross into the side netting in the best of their goalmouth action. They did have claims for a penalty though when Michael Smith latched on to Albert Watson’s long ball before being tugged down by Kyle Neill. The penalty claims went up from the away support but again, the officials weren’t listening.

At the other end, Glenavon were creating opportunities but unlike previous weeks, showed absolutely no composure in front of goal. First Trevor Molloy found himself one-on-one with the Ballymena stopper Dwayne Nelson thanks to Tony Grant’s flick on. However the goalkeeper on this occasion did well and charged down the winger, blocking his shot.

Mark Miskimmin was next to try his hand but after he did well to control a long ball, turn and get a shot away, he saw his effort deflected wide. On 38 minutes, arguably the best chance of the half fell to Tony Grant after Nelson’s poor clearance went straight to the striker’s feet. With the goalkeeper miles from his goal, Grant got his 35 yard effort away but unfortunately for the home side, it fell wide of the post just when he looked certain to level the scoring.

Soon after, Stuart King’s left wing cross found its way to Willo McDonagh but the in-form defender’s header smacked off the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Again a minute later a King cross caused problems in the box but again brought ultimate frustration when Tony Grant’s back post header was deflected by Denver Gage and fell onto the roof of the net.

Ballymena had the opening chance of the second half when Gary McCutcheon’s close range flick was well stopped by Andy Plummer but from then on, it was all Glenavon.

The first of the gilt-edged chances came before the hour mark when Trevor Molloy’s inch perfect right wing cross fell onto Tony Grant’s head. From six yards out, he looked sure to score but his effort went straight at Dwayne Nelson

Conor Walsh was next to go close, this time from Kyle Neill’s cross. Unfortunately for the home side, Walsh’s diving header flew narrowly over the bar before Trevor Molloy’s long range effort met the same fate.

On 74 minutes, Neill’s cross this time found Grant but the striker’s flicked header again fell agonisingly wide of goal. With 16 minutes to go, it looked like it was just going to be one of those evenings for the Lurgan Blues.

The boss was clearly fearing that outcome but, introducing James Costello and Adrian Harper, changed to a 3-4-3 formation, going all out in search of a point.

In truth, the equaliser should really have come but, true to form on the night, the Blues missed another great chance. Tony Grant’s flick on towards Mark Miskimmin was punched away by Dwayne Nelson. However it fell in between Costello and Molloy with the former taking charge but completely scuffing his 35 yard effort.

Then as Glenavon attacked, Ballymena countered and after Gary McCutcheon had seen his 25 yard effort dip just over the bar, they found their second goal.

That man Michael Smith’s right wing cross was flung in low and was greatly rewarded when substitute Richard Gibson got there first at the near post and smashed it home.

That was that and Glenavon were given their first sour taste of defeat this season

Glenavon: Plummer, Neill (Costello 76), Magee, McDonagh, Shannon, King, Harpur (Harper 72), Walsh, Molloy, Grant, Miskimmin.