Glenavon edge it in close encounter at Newry City Showgrounds
Second win on bounce for Lurgan Blues but league new boys "unlucky"
Glenavon made it back-to-back wins in the Danske Bank Premiership after last night’s 2-1 victory away to Newry City.
But it was the home team who made a more impressive start winning the early exchanges.
Darren Mullen’s side, like the Lurgan Blues, came into the game on the back of securing their first points of the new season after an excellent 2-1 win over Dungannon Swifts.
Glenavon who won 4-2 away to Warrenpoint last week to pick up their first win of the campaign, went into the lead at the Showgrounds – through a Gary Muir penalty.
Stephen Donnelly’s astute finish then doubled their lead before Newry got a well-deserved goal of their own.
Stephen Teggart (pictured above), who starred for Premier Intermediate side Banbridge Town last season before joining Newry in the summer, picked up his first strike in premiership football after firing home with half-time beckoning.
The second half started like the first with Newry pressing hard for an equaliser – but Glenavon keeper Jonathan Tuffey was on top form to keep the scoreline at 2-1.
In an interview with Downtown and Cool FM after the game, Mullen said his side were unlucky on the night.
“We played extremely well and I thought for the first 20 minutes we were the better side and then they scored against the run of play with what I can say was a dubious penalty,” he said.
“We conceded another soft goal but we reacted well and I thought in the second half we were the better side and deserved something out of it.”
He also praised the all-round efforts of Teggart.
“Stephen has settled in well and in the first match probably played within himself but I got speaking to him and tried to build his confidence because I think he has a big future ahead of him,” he said