Glentoran travel to Mourneview Park, Lurgan to face a Glenavon side who put 6 goals past Ballymena United last weekend and who sit top of the pile after week 1. Richard Clarke, Jason Hill and Mark Miskimmin have to still sit this one out through suspension and Jay Magee and John McGuigan have both picked up knocks. However Ryan O'Neill and Johnny Addis are both available for selection.
The two sides met on 4 occasions last season; 3 times in the Danske Bank Premiership and once in the Irn-Bru League Cup. We travel to Mourneview Park at the same stage of the season as in the 2012-13 campaign. On 18th August 2012 we came away with a 1-1 draw. Glentoran took the lead just before the break with Stephen Carson setting up Andrew Waterworth but an equaliser, 3 minutes from time, by Matty Burrows gave Glenavon a share of the spoils. Richard Clarke scored in the first half of the second league meeting at the Oval in mid-October and whilst Marc Brown levelled for the Lurgan side, Mark Clarke got on the end of a Stephen Carson corner to give the East Belfast Glens all 3 points. It was the same score when the two teams met at the Oval in the final league meeting. Elliott Morris saved a penalty in the first half but Glentoran upped their game after the break and goal from Waterworth and a stunning free kick from Carson were enough to win the game despite an injury time goal from Ciaran Martyn. Glenavon did knock Glentoran out of the League Cup though. That game, played at Mourneview Park on 5th October ended 2-1 for the home side. McGrory scored both their goals with Jimmy Callacher replying for the Glens.
Please note that the Reserve League game scheduled for the Oval this Saturday, Glentoran Seconds v Glenavon Reserves, has been postponed due to the Lurgan sides involvement in the Bob Radcliffe Cup. The game has been rearranged for Tuesday 20 Aug at 7-45pm.