Glenavon FC News

Dates have now been agreed for our outstanding Premiership games against Glentoran and Linfield:

- GLENTORAN (A) Tuesday 25 November 2008, kick-off 7.45pm
- LINFIELD (H) Tuesday 9 December 2008, kick-off 8pm

Results for Saturday 1st November.

Under 11: Glenavon 6-2 Tandragee, LPP
Under 13: Glenavon 1-2 Newry City, Gordon
Under 14: Glenavon 6-2 Enniskillen Rangers, Gordon
Under 15: Glenavon 0-5 Omagh United, Gordon
Under 16: Glenavon 7-3 St. Mary’s, Gordon

Under 17: Glenavon 1-2 Linfield, AET

After this Lisburn Invitational League Shield Quarter Final ended 1-1, Michael McKee scoring Glenavon’s goal, the game went to extra time and Linfield got the goal to take them through to the semi-final. Coach Davy Maguire was pleased with the attitude of his players against a big physical Linfield side.

Under 18: Glenavon v Newry City Wanderers OFF

It was with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Mrs Kate Kincaid, wife of our former manager Mr Tommy Kincaid. The thoughts of all associated with Glenavon Football Club  are with Tommy and his children Darren, Philip and Louise at this sad and difficult time.

Glenavon faces Crusaders for the second time in five days after Tuesday’s morale boosting Co-operative Insurance Cup victory for the Lurgan Blues over Stephen Baxter’s high-flying Crues.

Stephen McBride will again be without the services of goalkeeper Robert Robinson who will be sidelined for a number of weeks with ankle ligament damage picked up in last Saturday’s Premiership game against Glentoran. Full back Niall Hudson is in contention for a recall after missing the game on Tuesday through suspension after his sending off against the Glens and young midfielder Gareth Scott impressed after coming on as a substitute in the midweek Cup game.

McBride was of course delighted with the result on Tuesday night but the second half performance in particular pleased him. “Both sides had a number of young players on show. Mark Haughey, Gareth Scott and Jay Magee all did well and have maybe given me a bit of a selection headache for tomorrow. These young lads are the future of Glenavon but we have to be careful that we give them their opportunities when the time is right and not dent their confidence so Fraz and I will be giving a lot of thought to our options for tomorrow.

“If you’d asked me on Monday what I’d prefer I’d have taken three points tomorrow but the result on Tuesday has boosted our confidence and we’ll be looking for a win again tomorrow; the League points are desperately important and it’ll be a whole different ball game tomorrow.

“Goose (Robinson) is in plaster for 7-10 days and he’ll be assessed by the medics after that. This is Tuda’s opportunity to claim the keeper’s jersey and he played very well when he came on for the second half on Saturday last and in Tuesday’s game. This is why I wanted competition for places throughout the squad so when a player gets his chance he knows he will have to perform well.”

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Mr Gordon Irwin, President of Glenavon FC

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Paul Carville's 79th minute goal has given Glenavon a 2-1 lead going into the second leg of the Cooperative Insurance Cup tie.

A PAUL Carvill strike 11 minutes from time gave Glenavon a well earned home victory over high flying Crusaders in last night’s Co-operative Insurance Cup, third round, first leg tie at Mourneview Park. The home side were well worth their victory in the end, having produced a storming second half display and after bossing parts of the first.

Crues boss Stephen Baxter went for a youthful line-up, but included experienced heads such as Gareth McKeown, Alain Emerson, Colin Coates and debutante Jamie Marks.

His faith in his kids was repaid when the Seaview side took the advantage after just seven minutes. Jonathan Bowers pulled the ball back for Eamon McAlister to shoot from 20 yards. Glenavon goalkeeper Tuda Murphy was left flat footed and unsighted by his defence as the ball nestled into the bottom corner.

Glenavon responded with three chances, two from Tony Grant and one from Ryan Harpur, but they left stand in Crues ‘keeper Stephen McKay with little to do.

How Crusaders didn’t double their lead just before the interval will baffle Baxter as a Marks ball across goal went unanswered with his team-mates lining up to put the ball away, but failing to get the touch it needed to turn it into the goal.

Glenavon pulled level just after the hour mark with Davy Larmour, who only last season was plying his trade with the Crues, converted a spot kick after Adrian Harper had won the Mourneview side a penalty after being fouled in the box.

Marks’ first game in a red and black shirt was to come to a premature end on 73 minutes when he was sent off for leading with his elbow on Harper.

Then came that Carvill strike on 79 minutes that gave Glenavon the advantage. Harpur’s free kick from 20 yards was blocked by the Crusaders wall and cleared out to the left back, who ran from 30 yards, darted between three defenders and rifled a low shot into McKay’s bottom right hand corner.

Adrian Harper won the penalty which Davy Larmour dispached for Glenavon

Glenavon could have increased their lead on 84 minutes when Harpur’s shot from 25 yards screeched past McKay with the keeper at full stretch but they will have to settle for a one goal advantage going into the second leg in two weeks time and an all important psychological advantage going into Saturday’s JJB Premiership clash.

GLENAVON: Murphy, Magee, Dickson, Walsh, Carvill, Harpur, Harper, McDonagh, Molloy, Grant, Larmour. Subs: Buchanan, Haughey (Walsh 44), Liggett (Grant 81), Scott (McDonagh 58), McCann.

CRUSADERS: McKay, McKeown, Emerson, Marks, Spruce, Coates, Coulter, Caddell, Arthurs, McAlister, Bowers. Subs: Rainey, Dickson (Arthurs 77), Black (Caddell 74), Donnelly, McBride (Emerson 68).
REFEREE: Stephen Weatherall.