No stopping Glenavon road show

Glenavon continued their brilliant away form as they made it three wins in a row after brushing aside Ballymena United 4-1 at The Showgrounds on Saturday.
Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.
Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.

The Lurgan Blues never looked back after Kyle Neill fired them into a first half lead and the three points puts Gary Hamilton’s side up into second spot behind leaders Cliftonville.

Glenavon had the first effort at goal as Kevin Braniff tried his luck from distance but with keeper Nelson struggling his effort missed the target.

United responded with Alan Taggart delivering a dangerous ball into the box but Matthew Tipton just failed to connect.

Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.
Kyle Neill fires Glenavon ahead at Ballymena.

Former Glenavon player Neal Gawley created the next chance with his penetrating run and after getting past Paddy McNally he failed to test Alan Blayney in the Glenavon goal.

With the sides heading for a scoreless first half the visitors edged in front on 44 minutes. A lovely worked move saw Braniff and Eoin Bradley combine and when the ball came in Kyle Neill had made up the ground to drill the ball home.

Glenavon expected a strong start to the second half by their hosts and that is exactly what happened as Blayney was called upon to save a snapshot from Kyle McVey.

Ballymena hopes took a setback again on 54 minutes when Glenavon doubled the lead with Bradley using his power to hold off McBride before dispatching a crisp shot past Nelson.

The third goal was a gift for Glenavon when keeper Nelson delayed made a hash of a back pass and when he fumbled the ball Marshall was free to tap into an empty net.

Ballymena tried to find a way back into the game but the closest they came was when McVey’s close-range effort in a goalmouth scramble was brilliantly blocked by McNally.

A great day was complete when Gary Hamilton played a neat one-two with Andy McGrory before curling a great shot into the net to make it 4-0 on 83 minutes.

Nelson pulled a late goal back for Ballymena, but this was another superb performance from Glenavon as they go into a phase of difficult games in a confident mood.

Ballymena United: Nelson, McCullagh, McVey, Munster, McBride (sub Boyce 57), Teggart, Davidson (sub Jenkins 57), Taggart, Gawley, Cushley, Tipton. Subs (not used): Stewart, Ruddy, McCaul.

Glenavon: Blayney, McKeown, Dillon, McNally, Singleton (sub Martyn 85), Marshall, Caldwell, McCabe, Neill (sub McGrory 80), Braniff, Bradley (sub Hamilton 59). Subs (not used): Murphy, Kilmartin.

Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown).

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