The league is over and the party has well and truly begun at Windsor Park as Linfield lifted their 53rd league title. You can let them off the hook for Saturday’s laid-back approach, but Glenavon came to town and recorded a good 4-0 win that puts them in third position ahead of Crusaders. Crusaders travelled to North Belfast rivals Cliftonville only to lose 2-0. Seems they have no interest in the league finish, only the Irish Cup. Let’s hope it works out or the playoffs will be interesting.
At the bottom, the two-horse race continued. So, it’s all change again after Newry lost at home to Glentoran 2-0 on Friday evening. This left Ards with a trip to the North West to take on Institute. They came away with a good 1-0 win, crawling themselves off bottom spot, but still with two games left to play.
So, a fun-filled Friday evening saw Newry City, who were trying to stay off the bottom for another week, up against a Glentoran side pushing for a play-off place. Unfortunately for City, they lost 2-0. It took the Glens 22 minutes to break the deadlock.
Curtis Allen breaking through to fire home after some good work from Darren Murray. It was also Allen who struck the second with Murray again involved. Murray’s throw in was flicked on to the little predator, Allen, in the box who pounced to score. Good win for the Glens allowing them to maintain their spot in seventh, but for City a setback. Back to bottom spot and two games to go. Can they do it?
Ards travelled up to the North West in desperate need of a win, and it came to them after a 1-0 win against Institute. The only goal of the game came from a free-kick. Step up, Michael McLellan. He put the ball down 35 yards out and unleashed a thunderbolt into the net. This was not a game Ards had to hold onto. They could have added to the scoreline. But on today’s outing, they should, and will be hoping they hold on to 11th spot.
It was party time at Windsor Park and Glenavon didn’t read the script, defeating Linfield 4-0. But the hard work was already done for Linfield. Players could have a break, squad players getting a game just the way it should be. A good win for the Lurgan Blues sees them rise into third place. Goals from former Linfield midfielder Robert Garrett, Conor McCloskey, Eoin Wearon and the talented Rhys Marshall to round off the scoring.
Ballymena have now more or less confirmed second spot after this 1-0 win over rivals Coleraine. Glenavon are five points behind with two games to go so you can more or less wrap up the possibility of any sort of contest for second spot.
For the goal, if you get a chance to have a look at it please do. Leroy Millar scored the only goal of the game and what a goal it was. He turned inside a Coleraine defender and from a tight angle curled the ball home. Great goal and what a season for the Sky Blues. Europe awaits.
What can you say about this one? The North Belfast Derby saw Cliftonville run out 2-0 winners over Crusaders. The Crues have set their marker down. The Irish Cup it is. Are they playing with fire? Yes, they are. If they don’t beat Ballinamallard United in the Irish Cup, they could end up with an unfavourable draw in the playoffs. The Reds are right behind them now. I think it’s a little piece of arrogance on their behalf thinking the Irish Cup is already theirs. On current form, they won’t win the playoffs. Another week and yet more squad rotation. Defending once again was the problem. 48 goals against and counting is unacceptable no matter how much respect certain players crave at Seaview.
A Ryan Curran double was enough to give the Reds the win. The first from the spot after Joe Gormley walked past Michael Ruddy then got upended by a lazy tackle from Kyle Owens. Curran stepped up and finished from the spot. The next was a little bit of magic from Curran. This time it was the other Crues centre-half, Howard Beverland, getting caught out by a wonderful piece of skill by Curran. He didn’t think twice and smashed an unstoppable shot home.
Good win for the Reds and they are breathing right down the neck of the Crues who now sit in fourth. The Crues need a clear out. But I don’t think we will see it, and it will be the same old next season if the backbone of the squad is not fixed.
Dungannon were still in for a shout for a play-off place as they travelled to Warrenpoint. But they came away on the end of a 5-3 defeat and with two games left, it is going to be hard for them to take that spot off the Glens. I cannot work the ‘Point out. Great one week, terrible the next. I really can’t get my head around it. But today they will take the win.
‘Point got the first goal, Lee Duffy capitalising on some terrible defending. The Swifts had the chance to equalise but Paul McElroy missed from the spot. The ‘Point went further ahead this time when a free-kick into the box was headed into the Swifts’ net by Danny Wallace.
The Point’s problem has been dealing with balls into the box and that continued to be the theme here when a cross into the box could not be managed and Rhys Marshall pounced to score. The Swifts’ equaliser was true comedy gold in defending. When the ball eventually fell to an unmarked Paul McElroy on the box, he slotted home.
The Swifts took the lead just before half-time through a lovely chip from Michael Carvill. He made space for himself inside the box before chipping the ball over the keeper into the net. Into the second half and ‘Point were back on level terms. This time from a corner the Swifts’ keeper Alex Moore dropped the ball. Wallace was on hand to score his second and make the score 3-3.
Point made it 4-3 with a great counter-attack. Joshua Lynch was set free and dispatched a shot past Moore. ‘Point again were deadly on the counter for number five. This time Fra McCaffrey was sent on his way and went one on one with Moore and finished.
