Glenavon Pipped

Ayr United's Northern Ireland tour of 2002 continued when they took on Glenavon for on 18th July 2002 in a pre-season friendly at Mourneview Park, Lurgen.

This report of the game is from an Irish perspective.

Despite losing 2-3 last night to Scottish First Division side Ayr United, Glenavon manaager Colin Malone will have been quite encouraged by his team's performance in its opening pre-season fixture at Mourneview Park. New signings George O'Boyle, Pete Batey, Norman Kelly and Nigel Quigley all started the match against Campbell Money's side, whilst Armagh City winger Steven Hynds - a transfer target for the Lurgan men - was introduced during the second-half.

Although Glenavon battled hard throughout, their opponents superior sharpness in the final third ultimately proved decisive. Veteran Ayr United striker Eddie Annand - who scored the Somerset Park club's winner against Hibernian in last season's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final - opened the visitors account with a pinpoint header in the 24th minute. Raiding left-back Paul Lovering, one of the visitors' best performers, created the chance for Annand with a fine run followed by a perfectly measured cross.

Scott Chaplain, a busy and inventive midfielder, doubled Ayr's lead ten minutes later when he scored from close-range after Glenavon defender Jonny Wright had been dispossessed on the touchline. The home side's best effort of the first-half was a fine right-foot shot by former Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone striker George O'Boyle which slipped just inside the far post but was perhaps harshly disallowed for offside.

Four minutes into the second-period Glenavon pulled a goal back. Talented midfielder Gerard McMahon was the marksman with a close-range effort which entered the net off the underside of the crossbar after good build-up play by teenage striker Paul Keenan. Pete Batey almost scored a second goal six minutes later but his on-target header was deflected for a corner.

Despite Glenavon's efforts to equalise, the visitors restored their two goal advantage in the 62nd minute. James Grady scored the goal from the penalty-spot after Scott Chaplain had been upended by Norman Kelly.

With both teams introducing a virtual procession of substitutes, Glenavon completed the scoring in the 83rd minute. Referee Brian Kane pointed to the spot following contact on the edge of the penalty-area between Ayr keeper John Dodds and Glenavon midfielder Mark Gilmore.

Seventeen year old central-defender Conor Larkin took the kick and confidently stroked the ball into the corner of the net. Ayr Utd round off their short trip to Northern Ireland with a match against Glentoran at the Oval on Saturday.

GLENAVON: Rice, Wright, Mallon, Quigley, Larkin, Collins, McMahon, Kelly, O'Boy;le, Batey, Keenan, SUBS: Graham for McMahon (67 mins), Cushley for Rice (77 mins), Gilmore for Batey (67 mins), A Smith for Mallon (77 mins), McLaughlin for O'Boyle (half-time), Clarke for Quigley (half-time), Cunningham for Keenan (67 mins), Hynds for Collins (half-time) and Houston for Kelly (77 mins).

AYR UTD: Nelson, M Smith, Lovering, McManus, Campbell, Dunlop, Chaplain, Nicholson, Annand, Grady, Sherrin, SUBS: Keane for Annand (80 mins), Cosgrove for M Smith (58 mins), Latta for Campbell (77 mins), Black for Dunlop (74 mins), McVeigh for Grady (80 mins) and Dodds for Nelson (80 mins).
REFEREE: Mr B Kane (Newry). at Mourneview Park
NOTE: Cautions - none.

No programme was issued for the match.