Glentoran 2-2 Glenavon, Co-Operative Insurance Cup
With Marty Quinn attending a family wedding today, his Assistant Jeff Montgomery was in charge so this week we have Jeff’s View in the post-match interview.
Gary Liggett celebrates his goal with Adrian Harper. Photo by Russell Pritchard/Presseye.com
Just as the heavens opened at The Oval Glenavon took a tenth minute lead thanks to an excellent finish by Gary Liggett, a second goal in only his second start of the season. Stuart King and Trevor Molloy exchanged passes and the ball fell for Adrian Harper. He slipped it through to Liggett who raced through on goal and slotted a low right foot shot inside Elliott Morris’ left hand post from just inside the angle of the penalty area.
Just after the re-start Tuda Murphy had to dive at the feet of Kyle Neill to cut out a dangerous cross and Daryl Fordyce’s 17th minute shot from just outside the box was parried well by Murphy before Callacher put a header wide in the 24th minute.
Conor Walsh spurned a great chance to double the lead a minute later when Molloy’s deep cross was missed by Morris and the Glenavon skipper found himself unmarked at the far post but he drove his shot right across the goal area.
Glentoran's Jamie McGovern and Glenavon's Stuart King. Photo by Russell Pritchard/Presseye.com
King doubled Glenavon’s lead in the 29th minute when his 40 yard free kick totally deceived Morris, thanks to Jay Magee’s run across the Glentoran keeper’s line of sight, the ball bouncing near the keeper’s feet before trundling over the line.
Glentoran was given a lifeline back into the game when Murphy allowed Neill’s 56th minute free kick to squirm under his body after he had seemed to make a good save when the ball bent round the wall. Murphy did well with a double save in the 59th minute when he pushed Callacher’s 30 yard shot wide and quickly regained his feet to save Waterworth’s follow-up shot.
On the hour mark Waterworth blasted wide when well placed and seven minutes later Molloy’s cut-back set up a chance for Adrian Haper but, under pressure, he lifted his shot well over the Glentoran bar. Alan McDonald brought on Gary Hamilton in the 72nd minute and he was immediately involved setting up a chance for Fordyce who saw his shot strike the outside of Murphy’s right hand post. Seconds later Harper’s slip allowed Hamilton a clear run on goal but Murphy raced off his line and made a great save from the Glentoran striker’s low shot.
Glenavon's Trevor Molloy holds off Glentoran's Sean Ward. Photo by Russell Pritchard/Presseye.com
Fordyce completed the comeback for the Glens in the 83rd minute when he showed composure at the far post after Hamilton’s corner found its way to him and he stroked a shot into the net as he was being closed down.
Teams:
Glentoran: Morris, Nixon (c), Neill (Hamilton 72), Clarke, Ward, Fordyce, Waterworth, Hall (Gillespie 57), Callacher (Halliday 75), Hill, McGovern. Subs not used: Gibbons (GK), Black.
Glenavon: Murphy, Haughey, Magee, Gracey, Turkington, Harper, Walsh (c), Molloy (Murray 85), King, McDonagh (Harpur 78), Liggett (Costello 77). Subs not used: Campbell, Carvill.
Referee: Brian Turkington
Goals: Liggett 10, King 29, Neill 56, Fordyce 83
Cautions: Haughey 48, Nixon 53, Magee 63
