Dean Smith proudly exclaimed that Loughgall have got their identity back – and that is what bas brought them back-to-back wins in the Sports Direct Premiership for the first time in 2024.
First-half goals from Jordan Gibson and Nathaniel Ferris gave the Villagers the platform to go on and win at home for the first time since the opening day of the season, with Smith hailing Jamie Rea’s strike with the last kick of the ball as ‘the cherry on top of the cake’ in a 3-0 victory over Glenavon.
Loughgall had to be disciplined defensively when they came under early pressure – David McDaid brining a fine save from Nathan Gartside with Glenavon’s best chance – they then showed quality in the final third in going 2-0 up with goals four minutes apart late in the first half.
After the break, as Glenavon dominated possession and territory without really troubling Gartside apart from a particularity impressive save to deny Peter Campbell from close range, Loughgall’s doggedness and determination came to the fore. Lewis Francis, Luke Cartwright and Rea were excellent at the back while Tiernan Kelly and Robbie Norton epitomised the all-round team display with their tremendous work in midfield.
“I thought it was a fantastic team performance, a real togetherness,” said a delighted Smith.
“As a team we defended superbly.
“We’ve said since the Linfield game – although we didn’t get the result that night – that it was a Loughgall performance
“Defensively we looked really good, we were decent on the ball and that momentum then from last week getting the win gave us something to build on and this week we got a clean sheet too.
“Nathan makes a fantastic save at 2-0 and goes on to keep a clean sheet and from that I thought we were always likely to catch them for a third on the counter attack as they pushed players forward.”
After a run of eight straight defeats this win, combined with last week’s success at Dungannon Swifts, has now moved Loughgall level on points with Carrick Rangers at the foot of the table and just four behind Glenavon as their battle to beat the drop gains momentum, with performances now being gurned into points.
“Along the bad days our performances were nowhere neat what we would class as Loughgall performances,” said Smith
“From the Portadown game into the Linfield game which spring to mind we didn’t get the results, but we certainly got performances.
“It’s just building on those and we’ve probably got our just rewards today.”
After seeing off Glenavon’s early threat Loughgall crucially made a period of pressure of their own count in the 35th minute.
Glenavon initially thought they had done enough to clear the danger at a corner, but Campbell’s attempted pass out of the box didn’t reach it’s intended target. Rea hammered the ball back in and when it ricocheted back to Gibson on the edge of the box he controlled with his right foot, cut the ball back onto his left and produced a beautiful strike that curled into the top corner of the net.
Gibson and Rea were then heavily involved again as Loughgall hit with a double whammy within the space of four minutes. Alberto Balde had broken ahead of Gibson on the left wing, collected his pass and then set it back for Rea to cross and Ferris peeled off James O’Carroll to head home unmarked at the near post.
Glenavon came on strong in the second half, changed their shape a couple of times and even threw centre-half Mark Haughey up front when brining him off the bench, but all to no avail as Loughgall defended superbly.
Right at the end of six minute of added time Alberto Balde broke on the right, spotted Rea breaking forward and he smashed a superb first-time drive past Gareth Deane.
“We’ve been punished in a game that we’ve largely dominated,” was how Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell reflected on a performance that to a large extent had everything but a goal.
“We should take the lead before they take the lead and then in the second half we were fairly dominant, created lots of good moments, but just that final instinctive finish we just lacked.
“That’s the importance of getting in front when you are on top because we had to come out then and go for it even more.
“I’m more than happy with the amount of chances we created, it’s just putting the ball in the back of the net.”
LOUGHGALL: Gartside 8, McDermott 7 (Murdock 81 mins, 5), Francis 8, Cartwright 7, Rea 9, Kelly 8, Norton 8, Gibson 8, McCloskey 7 (Towe 81 mins, 5), Ferris 7 (Boyd 71 mins ,6), Waide 6 (Balde 24 mins, 6). Unused subs: Turker, McAleer, Harvey.
GLENAVON: Deane 6, Toure 7, O’Carroll 6 (Ward 60 mins, 6), McKeown 7, O’Sullivan 6, Marshall 5 (Doran 75 mins, 5, Malone 6 (O’Connor 60 mins, 6), Snoddy 6 (Doona 74 mins, 5), Quinn 7, Campbell 6 (Haughey 82 mins, 5), McDaid 7. Unused subs: Byrne, Lynch.
Referee: Ian McNabb 6.