Embarrassing Blues easily beaten

AN embarrassing and inept performance from Glenavon left the Blues on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline at Seaview on Monday night.

The game, being shown live on Sky Sports, was a completely one sided affair with Crusaders running riot around the under-performing Glenavon side. To say it was men against boys would be an understatement and in truth the score flattered the Lurgan side more than anyone. Crusaders could and probably should have bagged more than the three goals they managed in front of the cameras.

Glenavon boss Marty Quinn began the game with a very defensive set-up with central midfielders Conor Walsh and Willo McDonagh playing on the wings. The plan was clearly to try and shut out the Crusaders attack but this never really looked like happening from the off and the formation left Glenavon offering virtually nothing going forward..

The home side were to find frequent joy down either flank with acres of space a regular luxury for the wingers. On seven minutes Gareth McKeown burst down the right wing and crossed to Ross Arthurs whose shot was easily saved by Andrew Plummer.

A minute later Glenavon had their first of few chances but Barry Johnston rifled a 25-yard effort over the crossbar.

However, back at the other end, Plummer was continuing to be forced into action with yet another cross being allowed into the Glenavon penalty area. This time Martin Donnelly found Chris Morrow at the back post but his header was routinely claimed by the Glenavon goalkeeper.

Strangely Glenavon’s biggest attacking threat of the evening was full-back, Hugh Davey who showed his desire to burst towards goal on several occasions. On 16 minutes, Davey galloped down the left wing and played a neat one-two with Ryan Harpur but his subsequent shot flew harmlessly over the bar off his weaker right foot.

Seconds later, Crusaders centre-back Colin Coates played a slack header straight to Trevor Molloy whose shot from the right side of the box skidded off the 4G surface but was stopped by Crusaders goalkeeper, Chris Keenan. Molloy then tried an adventurous effort from the left wing, hooking the ball with his right foot just wide of the near corner.

On 25 minutes, Willo McDonagh fired a 25-yard effort high and wide of goal but, rushing up to the other end of the pitch, Crusaders were far more clinical. On the edge of his own penalty area Barry Johnston attempted to play a sideways ball to Mark Haughey but instead found Martin Donnelly who couldn’t believe his luck and strode through the defence before stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The Crues never looked back and from that moment on there was to be only one winner with the home side totally dominating the rest of the proceedings.

On 38 minutes the second goal duly arrived for Crusaders. McMaster’s right wing cross was headed towards goal by Martin Donnelly but the effort was blocked by the eager Jay Magee who also got in the way of Ross Arthurs’ rebound. Magee couldn’t get to the second rebound though and Arthurs smashed the ball high into the top corner of a helpless Andy Plummer’s goal.

Magee then almost gifted Crusaders their third goal of the evening when he passed the ball straight to Chris Morrow who found Jordan Owens clear of the Glenavon defence. The striker rounded the oncoming Andy Plummer but his touch was too heavy, forced him wide of goal and the resulting shot flew wide of the gaping net.

Either side of the break, James Costello and Stuart King were introduced at the expense of the injured Tony Grant and Conor Walsh but neither substitute had any affect on the game and Crusaders continued to run riot throughout an embarrassing second period for the Lurgan Blues.

The talented McMaster then played a neat chip through the Glenavon defence to Ross Arthurs who couldn’t believe the space he was in but his low shot was brilliantly tipped around the post by Andrew Plummer.

Glenavon had few chances throughout the half, the first of which came through Stuart King when Crusaders goalkeeper Chris Keenan ventured from his goals and then gifted the ball to the Glenavon winger. The shot from near the halfway line drifted wide of goal but Colin Coates would have been on hand to stop it had it been goalbound. Hugh Davey then found Willo Donagh for a back post header but his effort was blocked by Davy Magowan.

In injury time, Crusaders completed the rout when Ryan McCann ran on to David McMaster’s cut back and his low shot took a deflection of the unfortunate Hugh Davey before nestling into the bottom corner of the net.

The third goal was no more than the home side deserved for an accomplished performance which was made all the easier by Glenavon’s sheer lack of passing ability, attacking threat and defensive stability, a concoction that left a sour taste in the mouths of Blues fans who made their feelings known with a chorus of echoing boos at the final whistle.

CRUSADERS: Keenan, McKeown, Coates, Magowan, McBride, McMaster, McCann, Morrow (Doherty 86), Donnelly, Owens, Arthurs (Rainey 82). Unused subs: Caddell, Magee, Faulkner

GLENAVON: Plummer, Haughey, Dickson, Magee, Davey, McDonagh, Johnston (Murray 69), Harpur, Walsh (King 50) , Grant (Costello 42), Molloy. Unused subs: Gracey, Hamill.