It took a late, late goal with Marty Quinn’s two substitutes combining to restore Glenavon’s lead and earn a well-deserved win over the in-form Coleraine after leading marksman Rory Patterson’s deflected 86th minute shot had looked like it would earn the visitors a point as he cancelled out James Costello’s opener for the hosts.

Quinn chose to stick with the same line-up following the Tuesday night win over Newry City and once again his side played some lovely free-flowing football.

Marty’s View (Audio)

Jody Tolan had the first real effort of the game when he shot wide from 25 yards, Andrew Plummer happy to watch it drift wide of his far post. Eamon Murray then dribbled past several challenges before shooting from 20 yards, a low shot that O’Hare seemed to fumble before grabbing the ball at the second attempt. The young winger went on another great run through the middle in the 22nd minute and fed in a pass to Costello but his touch allowed O’Hare time to race out and drop on the ball. Just moments later Patterson showed a neat turn on the edge of the Glenavon box and his fierce shot wasn’t too far over the bar.

Four minutes before the interval Magee drove a superb cross-field pass out to Carvill and he fed Molloy who flicked the ball over Mukendi’s head and was unfortunate to drag a shot across O’Hare’s goal from 18 yards.

There was drama in the 53rd minute when referee Raymond Crangle controversially awarded Coleraine a penalty for what looked a very innocuous challenge by Jay Magee on Rory Patterson. Patterson himself stepped up to the spot but he hit the penalty rather too close to the middle of the goal and Plummer pulled off a save with Dickson completing the clearance.

In the 62nd minute Magee found himself in the opposition half when he won the ball and slipped it to Murray. He carried it forward before playing into the box for Costello. His first effort rebounded off the foot of the left hand post but for once the bounce favoured the Glenavon striker as he latched onto the loose ball to slot it just inside the other post.

A lovely flowing Glenavon move down the right ended in a volley wide by Costello but his blushes were spared by the offside flag. With Glenavon now in control Molloy’s 73rd minute shot from the edge of the area was spilled by O’Hare and Costello got to the ball before the Bannsiders’ keeper who was fortunate to smother the follow up shot which somehow stuck to him.

Two minutes later a deep free kick by Paul Carvill was met by a powerful downward header by Dickson that O’Hare saved brilliantly at the base of the post.

In the 78th minute Costello beat the offside trap as he raced onto Haughey’s ball down the right and outpaced his marker only to lift his shot over the bar with only O’Hare to beat.

With 7 minutes left on the clock Quinn made two changes with Willo McDonagh replacing Murray who was feeling a tight hamstring and Conor Walsh coming on for the hard-working Trevor Molloy. It may have been a move to hold onto the lead but that man Patterson popped up in the 83rd minute with a smart turn in the box but his right foot shot looked to be heading straight to Plummer until it took a wicked deflection off Hugh Dickson and nestled in the back of the net. That would have been harsh on the Glenavon skipper who, together with his defensive partners, had been as solid as a rock.

Fortunately those late substitutions proved to be ‘inspired’ as a superb free-flowing move down the Glenavon right ended with McDonagh slotting over a low pinpoint cross which left Walsh with a simple tap in to give the hosts a well-deserved second successive win.

Photo credits: Stephen Greenaway and Alan Weir.

Teams

Goals: Costello 62, Patterson 86, Walsh 89

Cautions: Lowry, Magee, Molloy, Patterson, Hegarty, Mukendi

Glenavon: Plummer, Magee, Dickson, Murray (McDonagh 83), Molloy (Walsh 83), Carvill (King 90+2), Haughey, Costello, Davey, Johnston, Harpur. Subs not used: Grant, Gracey.

Coleraine: O’Hare, Beverland (Gibson 83), Hegarty, McVey, Patterson, Tolan (Boyce 64), McCallion, Mukendi, Harkin, Dooley, Lowry (Tommons 71). Subs not used: McLaughlin, Canning.

Referee: Raymond Crangle

Our Sponsors