Last Time Out
GLENAVON would come from behind to defeat the Bannsiders at Mourneview Park back in March…
Date:
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Result:
Glenavon 2-1 Coleraine
Goals – Fitzpatrick (’69 mins), O’Connor (’84 mins); Scott (’26 mins)
Report:
GLENAVON would strike twice with twenty minutes to go as the Bannsiders suffered a third defeat in four Danske Bank Premiership matches.
Coleraine made two changes for the contest as Jack O’Mahony and Andy Scott replaced Lyndon Kane and Lee Lynch.
The Lurgan Blues – who came into the contest on the back of a good win against Glentoran – would threaten twice within the first 17 minutes as Conor McCloskey dragged an effort wide, before Gareth Deane had to dive to his right to thwart Matthew Fitzpatrick’s attempt.
However, the Stripes would take the lead on 26 minutes as Glenavon goalkeeper Rory Brown slipped and lost possession on the by-line. The ball was picked up by Andy Scott who tapped into an empty net for his first Coleraine goal.
Before the half-time whistle, the visitors will feel they should have doubled their lead as a long ball released Conor McKendry. The winger burst into the box but his right-foot attempt was kept out by Brown.
Gary Hamilton’s side made a bright start to the second-half and threatened three times within the first seven minutes. The first would see McCloskey head into the gloves from Isaac Baird’s cross, before Danny Wallace saw a goal bound effort being deflected wide after McCloskey’s free-kick was parried by Deane.
Minutes later, a corner kick by Aaron Rogers met Jamie Doran at the back post but his shot was cleared off the line by ex-Glenavon man O’Mahony.
Coleraine would introduce Eamon Fyfe on the hour mark and he would force Brown into a top save, with Matthew Shevlin’s rebound being blocked by Sean Ward.
Glenavon were continuing to pile men forward and grabbed an equaliser on 69 minutes. A cross into the box by Aaron Prendergast met Matthew Fitzpatrick who found the back of the net with a well-taken scissor kick.
This would galvanise the hosts who would then go ahead with just six minutes remaining as Fitzpatrick laid the ball into the path of substitute Michael O’Connor who made no mistake with a crisp finish.
The Bannsiders would threaten late on as Shevlin headed over from Lee Lynch’s cross but they would fall to a defeat as they go in search for a first victory against the Lurgan Blues since March 2020.
Line-ups:
GLENAVON: Brown, Snoddy, Fitzpatrick, Baird, McCloskey (O’Connor ’66 mins), Wallace, Doran, Rogers (Doyle ’90 mins), Garrett, Malone (Prendergast ’66 mins), Ward.
Subs Not Used: Matthews (GK), Kerr, Norton, Lynch.
COLERAINE: Deane, D. Jarvis, McKendry (Fyfe ’60 mins), Carson, Farren, O’Donnell, Glackin, O’Mahony (Lynch ’79 mins), McDermott, Shevlin, Scott.
Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Mullan, Brown, McCrudden, Doherty.
Referee:
Jamie Robinson
Highlights:
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