Great travelling support for Glenavon. Photo by Alan Weir.

Great travelling support for Glenavon. Photo by Alan Weir.

Scorer of the equaliser, James Singleton spoke to the Lurgan Mail’s Gary Ellis after the game.

Tile James

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The game was scoreless at half time but Glenavon had the ball in the net in the 14th minute when Eoin Bradlley headed in an Andy Hall cross but referee Arnold Hunter disallowed it for a foul by Kevin Braniff on David Miskelly.

Darren Murray saw a 25 yard shot crash off the underside of the bar a minute later with the Glenavon defence eventually clearing the danger after a scramble in the 6 yard box.

There was controversy in first half stoppage time when Joel Cooper was brought down by Michael Gault as he surged into the box. It looked like it was just inside or on the line (which is inside) but the referee decided to award a free kick just outside the area which was cleared after Braniff’s kick went through the wall.

Kris Lindsay wins an aerial challenge with Darren Murray. Photo by Alan Weir.

Kris Lindsay wins an aerial challenge with Darren Murray. Photo by Alan Weir.

Cooper had a great chance to put the visitors ahead just two minutes into the second half but he lifted his 8 yard shot over the bar with just Miskelly to beat.

Moments later Portadown’s Robert Garrett had a fierce shot well beaten out by Jonny Tuffey.

More controversy early in the second half when Assistant referee Richard Storey signalled that Kris Lindsay had handled Sean Mackel’s cross. It looked a very harsh decision but Murray showed no hesitation when he sent Tuffey the wrong way from the spot kick.

It was 2-0 three minutes later when Gary Twigg left Kris Lindsay for dead and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Gary Hamilton made all three of his substitutions in the 66th minute and five minutes later his volley drew a great finger tip save from Miskelly.

Gary Hamilton strides forward with the ball. Photo by Alan Weir.

Gary Hamilton strides forward with the ball. Photo by Alan Weir.

Bradley pulled a goal back ten minutes from time when he swivelled in the box and fired a left foot shot in off the post after a good run with the ball into the box by Mark Patton.

Eoin Bradley celebrates after James Singleton's goal makes it 2-2. Photo by Alan Weir.

Eoin Bradley celebrates after James Singleton’s goal makes it 2-2. Photo by Alan Weir.

Sean Mackle saw red for a foul on Andy Kilmartin in the 85th minute and from the resulting free kick, taken by Hamilton, James Singleton looped a header over Miskelly to make it 2-2.

Sean Mackle was shown a red card for this tackle on Andy Kilmartin. Photo by Alan Weir.

Sean Mackle was shown a red card for this tackle on Andy Kilmartin. Photo by Alan Weir.

In the closing minutes Glenavon could have grabbed all three points as Miskelly made a vital save to turn Bradley’s close range shot round the post as the Derry man latched on to a long ball from Tuffey. The striker also shaved the outside of the post in stoppage time when he turned smartly on the edge of the box and unleashed a low shot that had the Ports keeper stranded.

Teams

Portadown: Miskelly, Richardson, Oman, O’Hara, Redman, McMahon, Garrett, Gault, Mackle, Twigg, Murray. Subs: Brennan (GK), McAllister (Twigg 86), Soares, Stewart (McMahon 74), Breen

Glenavon: Tuffey, Marshall, Dillon, LIndsay, Neill, Hall, Kilmartin, Singleton, Cooper, Braniff, Bradley. Subs: Kelly, Patton (Cooper 66), Sykes (Neill 66), McGrory, Hamilton (Braniff 66)