Loughgall 6 - 3 Glenavon

First Division leaders humbled their Premier Division counterparts with a convincing victory in the Mid – Ulster Cup quarter final game.  Loughgall winger Ryan Moffatt was the star of the show ending the game with a hat trick and having a hand in the two other goals.
Glenavon boss Terry Cochrane fielded a near full strength side as he looked for his first victory in charge of the Lurgan Blues as Gavin McDonnell was suspended and Gerard McMahon rested.
Loughgall manager Niall Currie was forced to make a number of changes to his team.  Influential Alan Murphy, Dean Smith and Willie Herron were all suspended for the cup clash whilst Brian Adair is on the sidelines following his early withdrawal from Saturday’s league game at H&W Welders.  In came Richie Allen, Glenn Waddell and Andy Brown into the starting line up for the Villagers.
The visitors didn’t have to wait long for their goal as the cup tie was only three minutes old when Eamon Murray’s strike beat Robinson in the home goals.  New signing Mark Turkington’s driven cross was poorly headed out by Glenn Waddell and Eamon Murray simply sidefooted home from close range.
On 9 minutes Loughgall striker Lukasz Adamczyk hit a left footed drive which was comfortably saved by Paul Cairnduff on his Glenavon debut.  After 11 minutes the Premier League side almost extended their lead only for a tremendous double save by ‘keeper Robinson.  Trevor Molloy hit a low shot inside the penalty area which Robinson pushed out for Ciaran Donnelly and the ‘keeper did well to save from the second attempt.
The home side levelled one minute later when Ryan Moffatt headed home from close range following Noel Robinson’s great delivery.  On 16 minutes Bryan Pentland, playing in central midfield, threaded a low ball through to Adamczyk and the striker saw his effort well saved by ‘keeper Cairnduff.
Cairnduff performed a tremendous save low down to his left to deny the impressive Adamczyk on 25 minutes.  The Lurgan Blues regained the lead 5 minutes before the break when Molloy skilfully beat two Loughgall defenders on the byline and he crossed low for the onrushing Donnelly to stab home at the front post.
9 minutes after the interval the woodwork denied the hosts from grabbing an equaliser when Andy Brown headed Moffatts free kick onto the far post. 
Ex-Armagh City defender Mark Turkington had a good shot on the hour mark for Glenavon however it rose over the crossbar at the last minute.  3 minutes later the Villagers scored a deserved leveller when captain Darragh Peden lost his marker and headed home from Moffatts perfect set piece delivery.
On 69 minutes Loughgall took the lead for the first time in the game when another header from Moffatts corner was forced in at the back post, only this time it was Peden’s defensive partner Richie Allen who drawed the plaudits.
With 12 minutes remaining the lead was extended when Andy Brown poked home Noel Robinsons cross and only 1 minute later Loughgall had scored again!  Following great play by Noel Robinson inside the area his deflected cross was cleared off the line and Ryan Moffatt half-volleyed past the stranded Cairnduff.
Glenavon rallied and had a few good chances with McCain going close twice, Marc Robinson was able to save well from both his headed and long range effort in the last 10 minutes.  2 minutes before full time and Loughgall sensationally scored their sixth goal of the game when Andy Brown’s turn and cross was headed by the unmarked Ryan Moffatt to complete his hat trick.  In injury time the Lurgan Blues grabbed a consolation goal when the dangerous McCain headed past Robinson in the home goals.

Loughgall: M Robinson, Waddell, Alderdice, Peden, Allen, A Smith, Moffatt (Uprichard 89m), Pentland (O’Neill 85m), Adamczyk, Brown, N Robinson (Dickson 89m).

Glenavon: Cairnduff, McAdam, Turkington, McKerr, Hageman (Harper 45m), Donnelly, Murray (McClurg 81m), Walsh, Morris (Bracken 57m), Molloy, McCain.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Cookstown)