Match Reports:- Gold Cup 97/98

A goal in each half from Barry Tumilty and a third from Mark Glendinning saw Glenavon cruise to a comfortable victory over Larne. The opener came after six minutes. Stephen Caffrey saw his shot palmed away by Graeme McConnell, the ball was knocked back by Tony Grant and there was Tumilty to score from close range. Larry McMahon, who was inspirational in the home midfield, set up Mark Looney after 28 minutes with a right-wing cross but Stephen Scullion was quickly out to make the save. The second half was only one minute old when a quick free kick fell to Grant who was denied twice, in quick succession, by fine saves from McConnell. The Lurgan Blues extended their advantage on the hour when Tumilty rifled a cracking shot past a stationary McConnell into the top corner from the edge of the box. Larne gave themselves a lifeline two minutes later when Peter Lowry broke free on the left before sending a low shot wide of Scullion into the bottom corner. Glenavon wrapped the game up 19 minutes from time when a corner from Prizeman was met perfectly by Glendinning at the back post, his powerful close range header giving the keeper no chance.

Larne scorer: Lowry (62 mins)

Team: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Hill, Looney, Gilmore, Smyth, McMahon, Lowry sub: McQuillan (played)

They entered the Showgrounds with trepidation, but left with an upset 2-0 victory. Larne kick-started their Nationwide Cup campaign in emphatic style as they toppled the Premiership leaders in two minutes of inspiration. The largely tedious encounter can thank a strike from man-of-the-match Kevin O'Hagan and striker Peter Lowry in the space of just two minutes for providing a result in the otherwise frustrating tame showdown. O'Hagan's 66th minute 25-yard free-kick trickled rather than burst into the back of the net but keeper Robbie Beck's poor placing reduced him to a mere spectator as the shot bounced into the bottom right-hand corner. United barely had time to reorganise into a more positive attacking role before Lowry added a second in 67 minutes - his superb chest control teeing up a thunderous 20-yard volley which crept inside the helpless Beck. United trundelled towards defeat rather than rallying their Premiership pride to salvage a result. Their love affair with the summit of the premiership will be short lived if the sky blues can't move up a gear when they entertain the more imposing Glentoran on Saturday. Ballymena, resting Declan McGreevy and John McConnell after Saturday's 3-2 premiership defeat at the hands of Omagh, came under early pressure from first division Larne. Kevin O'Hagan sent a dipping 40 yard tester just inches over the crossbar after 10 minutes and moments later Mark Looney's diving near-post header from Jackie Johnston's in-swinging cross was tucked around the upright by a lunging Robbie Beck. For all Ballymena's premiership status, the sparsely populated stand caught only occasional glimpses of flair from isolated bursts of attacking enthusiasm by the speedy Nigel Boyd. On 35 minutes goalkeeper Graham McConnell fumbled a seemingly harmless Jason Allen free kick, but as O'Connell homes in for the killer strike John McKinstry swiped the ball clear off the line to relieve the pressure. As half-time loomed Larry McMahon unleashed a skidding 25 yarder to draw gasps from the crowd - more of an acknowledgement of the lack of first half action rather than any outstanding efforts as the ball trickled wide. United started the second-half in positive fashion as McDowell and Patton weaved across the Larne defence to ask questions of their central defenders but reluctance to attack would signal their downfall. O'Hagan's 66th minute strike silenced the angry crowd and when Lowry added a second just a minute later United were clearly waiting for the final whistle.

Teams: BALLYMENA UNITED: Beck, Carlisle, Stewart, Allen, Muir, Boyd, McDowell, Knell, Patton, O'Connell, Smyth
LARNE: McConnell, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley, Looney, Gilmore, McQuillan, McMahon, Lowry
Scorers: O'Hagan (66 mins), Lowry (67 mins)

Team:

Two last gasp goals earned Larne a deserved Gold Cup victory over neighbours Ballyclare Comrades. Larne started brightly and should have gone ahead after 27 minutes, Jason Gilmore got to the byline and crossed for Larry McMahon but from four yards out he scooped the ball over the top. Another chance went a begging three minutes later when Comrades defender Tom Brady missed a through ball, allowing Shane McQuillan a free shot on goal but he also knocked it over the top. Barry Rooney, who looked dangerous for the visitors, tested keeper Stephen Mills after 35 minutes following a fine run, but the keeper was well placed to block the shot. McQuillan was again denied after 41 minutes, this time he turned past Dallas but a fine one-handed save from Damien McCusker pushed the ball for a corner. Jason Gilmore, man-of-the-match, provided another opening for McQuillan after 68 minutes, but it was the same old story with the Ballymena man again failing to get his shot on target. Ballyclare took the lead 11 minutes from time with a superbly worked goal. Rooney knocked the ball inside to Madden he then ran down the flank to pick up the return pass and cross for Rainey to power his eighth of the season. Larne got back on level terms two minutes before the end when a mix-up between Brady and McCusker allowed McMahon to pick up the loose ball, he side-stepped the keeper before slotting it into the corner. As the game moved into injury time, Larne snatched the winner. McMahon sent in a beautifully flighted ball from the right which found McQuillan who dived superbly to head past the outstretched hand of McCusker into the corner.

Team: Mills, Craig, Johnston, Charnley, McKinstry, O'Hagan, Looney, Gilmore, McQuillan, Smith, McMahon subs: Leckey, Caulfield

Crusaders found the going tough at Inver Park before a double strike from Glenn Hunter in the last 12 minutes gave them victory. The Seaview men almost took the lead in the 11th minute. A corner was knocked back across the goal by Dunlop to Hunter, whose shot hit the underside of the bar. Larne then wasted a great chance at the other end. McQuillan's shot from the edge of the box came back off the post to McMahon, but unmarked four yards out he blasted over the top. McMahon was again out of luck 10 minutes before the break. This time O'Hare failed to hold his shot but Mellon was on hand to clear. Morgan, who had been causing problems for the Larne defence again got round the back to set up Murray just before the break but his weak effort was straight at Mills. Larne took the lead 12 minutes into the second period with a cracking goal. A long ball out of defence was picked up by 17 year old substitute Richard Caulfield. He raced clear of the Crues defence then like a veteran calmly slotted the ball past O'Hare. With 12 minutes remaining the visitors were level. Mills failed to hold an angled drive from Gavin Arthur and Hunter made no mistake close in. Hunter was denied a second six minutes from time. He saw his initial shot parried by as he lined up the rebound McKinstry stretched to block the shot. He had better luck however two minutes later. Former Larne favourite Trevor McMullan chipped the ball to the back post for Hunter to head in the winner from four yards.

Team: Mills, Craig, Johnston, O'Hagan, McKinstry, Charnley, Looney, Gilmore, McQuillan, McMahon, Lowry sub: Caulfield (replaced Lowry, 33)

Section - A

                                P   W   D   L   F   A PTS
1. Glenavon ................... 4   3   1   0  11   4  10
2. Crusaders .................. 4   3   1   0  10   5  10
3. Larne ...................... 4   2   0   2   5   8   6
4. Ballymena United ........... 4   1   0   3   7   8   3
5. Dungannon Swifts ........... 4   1   0   3   7  11   3
6. Ballyclare Comrades ........ 4   1   0   3   5   9   3