Spartans

Match Report - Keith Dixon

Greenleas

Glenavon’s first competitive match for many weeks was a Cup quarter-final tie away to Greenleas at Leasowe. 

The pitch was in a poor state as expected following all of the recent rain, but was eventually passed fit by the young and inexperienced referee.

First half Glenavon played up the hill and against the wind and therefore it was important to keep it tight. 

Whilst Glenavon started reasonably well, Greenleas gradually started to make the most of their first half geographical advantage and created a couple of very good chances.  It was no surprise therefore that they eventually made the breakthrough with an effort into the corner from 20 yards. 

Glenavon responded really well, however, and started to force the pace, playing much higher up the pitch.  But 1–0 soon became 3–0 as Glenavon were undone twice from crosses into the box.

It was important for Glenavon to focus on the uphill task if the game wasn’t to be over by half time.  This they did admirably as they took the game to Greenleas and created the better chances. It was from one of these that Sean Cookson headed in a Chris Ferguson cross to make it 3 – 1 just before half-time and give Glenavon a real lifeline.

The second half saw a complete turn around in the game as a clearly-buoyed Glenavon took the game to Greenleas and created chance after chance.  It was all Glenavon at this stage but just as one thought that the breakthrough would not arrive, Glenavon were suddenly back on level terms as first Ferguson and then Cookson again found the back of the Greenleas net with fantastic goals. 

Glenavon then laid siege to the Greenleas goal, creating half a dozen good chances but the winner would just not arrive.

Extra time arrived with the scores level at 3 – 3.  Glenavon reverted to a more cautious formation in the first period of extra time as they again played against the elements, but there was real determination in their play and it was no surprise when Cookson bagged his hat-trick with a terrific strike for Glenavon to take the lead for the first time. 

There was to be a further twist when Greenleas broke down the hill and bundled in an equalizer for 4 – 4.  Despite chances for both sides in the second period of extra time, defences held firm and there was no further scoring.

Penalties arrived and Daniel Dixon, Ashley Williams, Joe Selby and Jake Carragher made it 4 – 4 after 5 penalties each. 

Into sudden death and Daniel Wiffen saved Greenleas’ sixth kick, leaving Tom Fenley to coolly convert to win the game for Glenavon.

Only the goal scorers have been mentioned above as it would be wrong to pick out any individual for their efforts, such was the quality of the team performance.  It was a terrific, whole-hearted display by everyone of the squad that yielded a just and proper result.  Well done all!

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Glenavon

The first outing of 2008 saw Glenavon host Greenleas at Arrowe Park.  The omens were not good as the last time Glenavon played ‘at home’ away from The Glen, they lost to Ridgeview 3 – 2.  Little did we know that today’s result made that one look distinctly victorious!

The game kicked off and both teams made very slow starts – so much so that 10 minutes had passed with no action as such to report.  However the first real goalmouth action produced a home goal when a Chris Ferguson corner caused confusion in the visitor’s six yard box with the goalkeeper helping the ball into his own net!  From nowhere, Glenavon were 1 – 0 up.

On 14 minutes, Greenleas broke into the Glenavon box and goalkeeper, Sean Deehan, made a brave block at the feet of the onrushing striker.  But 3 minutes later, poor defending from a throw-in allowed Greenleas time and space to slot past an exposed Deehan for 1 – 1.

More half-hearted challenges from both midfield and central defence lead to another chance for the visitors that was well blocked by the over-worked Deehan.

However on 20 minutes, some rare determined play by Glenavon, first by Jake Carragher and then by Ferguson, resulted in Ferguson lashing home from 20 yards and Glenavon retaking the lead, 2 – 1.

The rest of the half was punctuated with untidy and incoherent play by both sides and half time arrived with Glenavon leading 2 - 1.

Coaches Keith Dixon and Ian Killen together with the watching parents hoped for a more determined approach from Glenavon in the second half.  It appeared that those hopes were to be realised when after 3 minutes, Ferguson made it 3 – 1 with a run and shot into the top corner. 

This was followed by the creation of a succession of half chances.  At this stage there was only one winner. However after 9 minutes, more slack defending in the centre of midfield and defence, allowed Greenleas the opportunity to lob Deehan for 3 – 2.  The game changed immediately from that point.

A minute later and Deehan made a terrific save, diving acrobatically backwards to keep out a certain goal.  It was all Greenleas now as the Glenavon midfield surrendered the initiative to allow the opposition to set up wave after wave of attacks.  From one of these, Ashley Williams blocked a Greenleas shot on goal only for the ball to spin wickedly away from Deehan into the opposite bottom corner for 3 – 3.

It was noticeable and hugely disappointing that a number of Glenavon heads went down at this point. However after 21 minutes, Glenavon nearly took the lead again when a Ferguson shot was just too close to the keeper.  However within a minute, play had switched to the other end and after Miles Allen bundled over an opposition striker in the box, Greenleas took the lead from the penalty spot.

3 – 4 soon became 3 – 5 when Glenavon again failed to clear a loose ball.  The lack of spirit and determination from Glenavon thereafter was painful to watch.  In many areas of the team, a real lack of belief, desire and dare I say, pride had set in.  This was just not good enough for a team that had pretentions of achieving something.

In the latter stages, 3 – 5 became 3 – 6, then 3 - 7 as Glenavon had virtually thrown in the towel.

Glenavon were humiliated, not particularly by a team with hugely greater ability, but more of one with a bigger heart – after all Greenleas had been 3 – 1 down with 25 minutes left and showed great character to come back.

The only player to emerge with credit was goalkeeper, Sean Deehan.  Without him the margin of defeat would have been even greater.

The coaches and parents were stunned!  Both deserve so much better from their boys; the coaches for giving up their valuable time week in, week out and the parents for ferrying the lads around and showing unwavering support.

The lads need to take a long look at themselves.  We all have off-days, when no matter how hard we try, nothing seems to go our way.  But the point is we still need to try our best.  If, after everything, our best is not good enough, then we can do no more and our heads can be held high.  However when failure is as a result of a lack of effort, application and desire, then we should be embarrassed.

Lads, what type of players, and people, do you want to become?  The decision is yours alone.

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Higher Beb

On a bitterly cold afternoon Glenavon took on Higher Bebington at Kings Lane.  The time for warm coats, woolly hats and gloves had well and truly arrived.

The watching parents hoped to be warmed by the lads’ performance, however after five minutes of lethargic, uninspired play it became apparent that those hopes were to be dashed (first half at least!). 

The opening half hour was a turgid affair with both sides seemingly unable to awake from a kind of winter hibernation, unable to summon up any energy for the contest, let alone pass the ball to a team-mate.  Goal mouth action was at a premium.

However after 30 minutes Glenavon fell behind when, following a free kick, poor marking allowed a Bebington player the time to loft the ball over keeper Deehan.  As is often the case, the goal brought the game to life and injected such much needed commitment and urgency to Glenavon.

Only three minutes later, Glenavon drew level, when midfielder Joe Selby played a pass through to Daniel Dixon who stroked the ball past the home goalkeeper.  Half time arrived at 1 – 1 and, quite frankly, it couldn’t come too soon for the watching parents.

Coach, Ian Killen was none too impressed with the first half performance and promptly made a couple of substitutions in an attempt to pep up his team’s performance.  We don’t know what was said during the half time talk, but whatever it was had the desired effect as the Glenavon second half performance was unrecognisable to that of the first.

After only 10 minutes of the half Glenavon had raced into a 5 – 1 lead!  Firstly Chris Ferguson smashed home from 18 yards after determined play by Jake Carragher.  Then following a fine run down the right, Peter King cut in and unleashed a right-footed effort above the keeper and into the roof of the net.  Next Ferguson was at it again, this time with a left-footed cracker from 18 yards.  The fifth arrived courtesy of Dixon after great work by Dean Cookson.

We were watching a different team to the first half.  Substitute, Jack Keavey was having a smashing game at right back, linking really well with Peter King.

After 20 minutes, the irresistible Ferguson picked up a loose ball and danced past a couple of Bebington challenges before finishing in style from a tight angle for 6 – 1.  Two minutes later Ferguson notched his fourth and Glenavon’s seventh when the ball broke in the area after a King cross.

The scoring was completed ten minutes from time, when Chris Kirkham followed up a shot from Ferguson that had been parried by the goalkeeper.  Despite further efforts the game finished 8 – 1 to Glenavon.  No-one could have predicted such a score line at half time, such is the unpredictability of football.

Man of the match deservedly went to Chris Ferguson after a truly dominant second half display and a small matter of four goals.

Now to dig out those hat and gloves!

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Glenavon

By the time that Glenavon kicked off against Wirral Lions at the The Glen, the morning rain had given way to weak, late Autumn sunshine and the watching parents experienced their first taste of the chill that will greet them in the coming months.

Glenavon started brightly and went for the lead from the off, having all the possession and penning Lions back inside their own half.  It was a complete shock therefore, when after 3 minutes Lions broke away with the aid of a defensive error and chipped the horribly exposed Sean Deehan in the home goal.  The disbelief in the home ranks was tangible. 

Glenavon’s response however was excellent, resuming their territorial advantage and producing wave after wave of attacks. 

After 10 minutes a good effort by Joe Selby was scrambled away by the visitors.  Five minutes later and Glenavon fashioned another good chance after great work by Chris Ferguson, from which Tom Fenley only just failed to hit the target. 

During this spell, some of Glenavon’s passing and movement was outstanding and Lions were struggling to stem the resulting attacking threat. 

After 22 minutes, the home side’s pressure finally paid off when a great ball by Fenley was seized upon by the ever willing Sean Cookson, who glided past the last defender only to be brought down in the box.  Stand-in referee, parent Keith Selby, had his easiest decision of the afternoon, awarding a penalty.  Up stepped Daniel Dixon to confidently fire Glenavon level, sending the Lions keeper the wrong way.

Having deservedly got back on level terms, Glenavon were in no mood to let the initiative slip and proceeded to step up their play to yet another level.  Their play all over the pitch was a joy to watch. 

On 24, Cookson again wriggled through and had a good shot well saved by the overworked visiting goalkeeper.  On the half hour, after another super ball from Ferguson, further determined play by Cookson, set up a chance from 20 yards for left back, Ashley Williams, with his first time effort just clearing the bar. 

Right on half-time, Cookson again had a great run down the left and after beating his defender, his effort curled just past the post.

Half-time arrived with nobody understanding how the scores were level at 1 – 1, such was the quality of Glenavon play and the dominance over their visitors.

It was important that Glenavon started the second half in the manner in which the first half ended.  The watching parents were not to be disappointed.  

After only 2 minutes, Ferguson had a goal-bound effort from 18 yards unwittingly blocked by a Lions defender. 

The second goal duly arrived after 10 minutes following lovely interplay down the left by first Williams and then Ferguson, Dixon was given sight of goal and unleashed an unstoppable effort from 18 yards – possibly the best team goal of the season so far. 

Barely a minute later and Cookson was released down the left and his clever chip was just kept out by the Lions keeper. 

Glenavon didn’t have to wait long for another goal however, when after 13 minutes another outstanding move down Glenavon’s left starting with a great tackle and pass from Williams, moving on through constructive play by Jake Carragher and Ferguson presented Cookson with a chance to test the keeper from wide left.  His arcing shot gave the keeper no chance.  3 – 1 to Glenavon and Lions just didn’t know what had hit them. 

Glenavon were now playing with great confidence and fluency and just four minutes later a ball over the top of the Lions defence presented Dixon with an opportunity for his hat-trick that he never looked like missing, firing left footed into the corner for 4 - 1.

Lions pulled two goals back within two minutes of each other around the half hour mark.

Glenavon played out the remaining minutes with no further scares, even managing to threaten the visitors goal on a couple of other occasions. The full time whistle blew with Glenavon victorious 4 – 3.

This was a wonderful performance from the Glenavon lads. 

Miles Allen deserves recognition for his determined defending.  

Man of the match deservedly goes to Daniel Dixon for his hat-trick but special mentions must also go to the three new signings this season;  Danny Salisbury, Chris Ferguson and Sean Cookson.  All have made positive contributions to an excellent start.

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Glenavon

On what the watching parents hoped wasn’t to be the last of the lovely, bright and warm Autumn afternoons, Glenavon u-13s hosted New Brighton Saints at The Glen.

After a slow start by both teams, Glenavon finally got into their stride when on 7 minutes Daniel Dixon had a shot well saved by the Saints keeper. 

Two minutes later Sean Cookson ran through the middle of the defence only for his shot to beat the advancing keeper but strike the bar and bounce to safety. 

Glenavon weren't’t to be denied for long as, on 11 minutes, Cookson again ran through but this time chose to round the keeper and slot into the unguarded net.

The lead was doubled barely a minute later when Lewis Killen ran onto a midfield pass and slotted calmly past the advancing keeper.  The slow start was well and truly forgotten. 

Glenavon continued to press however Saints did look dangerous with occasional breaks.  At this stage, it looked like a case of how many Glenavon were to win by. However the home side didn’t heed the warnings of Saints' breaks and on 22 minutes, following poor tracking back by the Glenavon midfield, Saints pulled a goal back. 

Amazingly within six minutes a further lapse allowed New Brighton to level.  Disappointingly some home players started sulking and bickering forcing coach, Keith Dixon, to make substitutions.

In fairness, Glenavon then focused on the task in hand and on 32 minutes, Cookson re-established Glenavon’s lead following a goalmouth scramble.  Glenavon’s two goal cushion was regained a minute from half time when a free kick dropped in the box for Thomas Hoather who finished with aplomb into the bottom right hand corner.

A real roller-coaster of a first half was brought to an end with Glenavon holding a 4 – 2 lead.

The second half was quiet compared with the goings-on of the first.  After 4 minutes Jake Carragher played a delightful through ball and the on running Cookson prodded past the Saints keeper for a deserved hat-trick. 

Well done to Sean who has made an impressive start to his Glenavon career.  On 6 minutes, Carragher almost turned scorer with a good effort from distance that the Saints keeper did well to save.

New Brighton pulled a goal back after 10 minutes when a free-kick from the right sailed over keeper Wiffen into the far corner.  Despite further chances most notably for Glenavon, there was to be no further scoring and the game finished 5 – 3 to Glenavon. 

The Saints manager nominated Thomas Hoather as Man of the Match for his sterling efforts at both ends of the pitch.

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Match Report - Stephen Williams

Match Report - Stephen Williams