It was very much a day to forget for Linfield as the Blues were not at the races and paid the price as they were turned over by basement side Glenavon at Mourneview Park this afternoon.
The first half of the match was a borefest. A strong wind didn’t help the spectacle and chances were very limited in the first half. Glenavon competed well but when they forced set-piece opportunities, the majority of them were carried out of play by the breeze.
Having put in a really positive performance to win 4-0 against Crusaders at Windsor Park last week, the Blues will have travelled down the M1 to Lurgan in confident mood, but such fluent play was not to be repeated this afternoon, despite David Healy naming an unchanged starting eleven.
The Blues only really had two chances in the first half, with Isaac Baird having a good opportunity when the ball fell kindly into his path following Ethan McGee’s long throw into the box, but the midfielder fired wide from 12 yards against his former club.
Callumn Morrison had the Blues’ other chance, showing good control to take down Kirk Millar’s lofted pass in swirling wind, and the Scotsman took his shot early, but it was comfortable for the goalkeeper to gather.
Glenavon looked a threat through Corey Smith on the left, and he went close after cutting inside onto his stronger right foot for a shot which flashed wide from 20 yards.
HT: GLENAVON 0-0 LINFIELD
David Healy would have wanted his team to lift it in the second half, but such effect didn’t materialise, although they did go close a few teams in the opening minutes of the half. Glenavon unsuccessfully claimed as Callumn Morrison raced through on goal, but the in-form Scotsman was indecisive and when he did eventually get a shot off, it was saved. Kyle McClean came in for the rebound from the edge of the box but he blazed a shot high and wide.
Two Kirk Millar crosses from the left posed danger within a few minutes of each other. Firstly, former Linfield defender Niall Quinn did brilliantly to get his head on the end of one to prevent Sam Roscoe getting there to surely convert it. Soon after, when Roscoe did meet Millar’s cross and got good purchase on a header, Glenavon’s strapped-up goalkeeper Jacob Carney produced a fine save to push the effort over the crossbar.
The Lurgan Blues continued to fight individually and collectively, and they got their reward as they took the lead on the hour-mark as a corner from the left was headed against the crossbar by Harry Murphy before Ben Wilson followed in to volley the ball low into the net on the rebound.
Sam Roscoe had a hairy moment when a Glenavon cross from the right was sliced just over his own bar by the defender. However, the Blues failed to deal with the resultant corner and, following a goalmouth scramble, teenager Paul McGovern squeezed the ball into the corner of the net from close range to make it 2-0 on 70 minutes.
Both goals were scrappy from a Linfield perspective, but also epitomised the hunger of the Glenavon team to win their battles and ultimately, win the match.
After huffing and puffing, and getting caught offside many times by a high defensive line, the Blues eventually found the net with a minute remaining in four minutes of additional time as substitute Charlie Allen drilled a low strike across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. It was a good finish, and the young midfielder made an impact in difficult circumstances. Hopefully, his first goal of the season will give him a lift. Unfortunately for Linfield, it was too little, too late as they were punished by a spirited Glenavon team who look up for their relegation fight and were worthy winners.
Glenavon remain at the foot of the table but they’ve closed the gap on eleventh-placed Crusaders to just five points, albeit they’ve played a game more than the Crues. Linfield, meanwhile, have work to do, and the importance of their two crunch games against Glentoran and Coleraine before the turn of the year has heightened, as the Blues are now ten points behind leaders Larne, albeit with a game in hand.
The Blues’ away form will need to improve going forward as they’ve picked up just ten points from nine away League matches, with Bangor (twice) the only venue they’ve won at – losing to Ballymena Utd, Portadown and Glenavon, and drawing the other five.
Needless to say, improvement required for Boxing Day when the Blues take on derby rivals Glentoran in front of more than 10,000 spectators at Windsor Park.
FT: GLENAVON 2-1 LINFIELD
GLENAVON: Jacob Carney (GK), Jordan McMullan, Harry Murphy, Paddy Burns, Oran O’Kane (Luke Cartwright 90’), Niall Quinn, Jack Malone, Ben Wilson (Luke McGerrigan 68’), Corey Smith (Stephen Mallon 84’), Paul McGovern (Barney McKeown 84’), Bridel Bosakani
Unused subs: Sean Hamill (GK), Kyle McClelland, Joshua Kee
LINFIELD: Chris Johns (GK), Ethan McGee (Charlie Allen 79’), Ben Hall, Sam Roscoe, Dane McCullough (Sam Taylor 87’), Jamie Mulgrew ©, Kyle McClean, Isaac Baird (Chris McKee 66’), Kirk Millar (Matt Yates 79’), Callumn Morrison, Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unused subs: David Walsh (GK), Sean Brown, Josh Archer
Referee: Ian McNabb
Yellow cards: Corey Smith