Newry City slump to three-goal defeat at home to Glenavon

It was a tough night for Newry City at The Showgrounds, as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat against Glenavon.

Ryan Waide was the star of the show, as he netted a hat trick. His third goal will be remembered for some time, as he fired home on the half volley from some 40 yards out.

Glenavon were well on top early on, and thought they had found an early breakthrough when Peter Campbell hit the back of the net on eight minutes. Whilst that goal was ruled out for offside, there was no debate when Waide slotted the ball past Jason Craughwell less than sixty seconds later.

The goal came from a slick one-two with Campbell, which opened up the City defence and the Glenavon attacker found himself with plenty of room to finish from six yards out.

Waide returned the favour to Campbell moments later, when he played him through for a one on one, but Craughwell was up to the task and saved impressively. The same pair continued to cause the Newry defence problems, with Campbell denied by a Jamie Rea block before Waide forced Craughwell into another save.

As the half went on, Newry began to grow into the game, and they got back on level terms just before the half hour mark.

Lone striker Ryan Swan held the ball up superbly, and laid it off for the overlapping Scott McCullough. His low cross from the right wing wasn’t dealt with by Glenavon goalkeeper Lorcan Donnelly, and Pablo Andrade was in the right place at the right time to finish from close range.

That sparked the hosts into life, and with the crowd behind them, they raised their tempo. They came inches away from taking the lead minutes later when the Lurgan side failed to deal with a cross and the ball dropped for Swan on the half volley, but his shot cracked the foot of the post.

Glenavon had the last two chances of the half, but Ethan Devine couldn’t get the ball under control in the middle of the box, and Craughwell claimed the loose ball, before they had a 5v4 on the counter attack, but Jude Johnson’s effort was blocked by City centre back Caolan Marron.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half were light on chances, with the only one falling to Campbell when he got in behind the Newry defence, but his weak shot was saved by Craughwell.

However, on 65 minutes the visitors moved back into the lead when Campbell’s whipped free kick from the left wing was met by the head of Patrick Burns, and he powerfully finished into the Newry net.

The visitors increased their advantage 11 minutes later, when Niall Quinn put the ball in behind the Newry defence, Waide beat the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home to make it 3-1.

Stuart King’s men almost had an immediate response though, when substitute Lorcan Forde skinned Jordan McMullan and drilled goalwards from six yards out. However, his shot was too powerful and flew over the bar.

On 83 minutes, Glenavon put the game beyond any and all doubt when Waide fired an absolute rocket into the top corner from distance. It may only be Matchday 2, but he may have secured the ‘Goal of the Season’ honours already.

Although the game was out of reach, Newry kept battling with McCullough, Rea and Swan all forcing saves from Donnelly, but there was concern for Stuart King when centre back Albert Watson had to be withdrawn with a non-contact injury.

In stoppage time, Glenavon had chances to make it 5-1, but both Alex Watson and Brandon Doyle were denied by Craughwell.

City are back in action on Saturday evening, when they make the short trip to take on Rathfriland FC at Iveagh Park.

MATCH STATS

Newry City: Jason Craughwell, Darren King (Albert Watson 56), Jamie Rea, Caolan Marron, Ryan Swan, Evan McEnteggart (Gavin Smith 79), Andrew Hoey (Lorcan Forde 69), Pablo Andrade, Keith Dalton (Lee Newell 79), Scott McCullough, Georgie Poynton (Alex McAllister 69).

Unused subs: Reece McKeown, Jack Chambers.

Glenavon: Lorcan Donnelly, Jordan McMullan, Patrick Burns, Harry Murphy, Ryan Waide, Luke McGerrigan (Mark Patton 84), Peter Campbell (Brandon Doyle 84), Ethan Devine (Luke Cartwright 84), Oran O’Kane, Jude Johnson (Alex Watson 73), Niall Quinn.

Unused subs: Mark Byrne, Deaglan Healey, Andrew Doyle.

Referee: Conor Murphy.