A goal within two minutes for Glenavon, Ciaran Martyn getting to Eoin Bradley’s knock down ahead of the defenders and rifling a shot past Samuel Johnston in the Welders goal.

Danny McKee equalised in the 21st minute with a somewhat speculative punt from the right touch line which lobbed over James Taylor. Within a minute the Championship 1 side could have gone ahead as Taylor went walkabout and only a goal line clearance by Rhys Marshall prevented Ethan Boylan from putting the visitors in front after he rounded the Glenavon keeper.

The young defender was called on to make another goal line clearance early in the second half when Ryan Deans beat Taylor to the ball and rolled it goal-wards.

Man of the Match Rhys Marshall leaps to head a clearance, Photo by Brian Bain

Guy Bates finally put Glenavon back in front in the 69th minute when he smashed the ball in after Martyn had stumbled as he ran onto a lay-off by Bradley. Luckily the ball broke to the big striker and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

Sixty seconds later it was 3-1 when Andy Hall ran onto a layoff by Martyn who had been picked out by a neat pass from Paddy McCourt and the winger fired home from 14 yards.

Andy Hall made it 3-1. Photo by Brian Bain

McKee gave the Welders hope of taking the game to extra time when he scored from the penalty spot in the 87th minute for his second goal of the night after he himself was tripped by Glenavon sub James Singleton.

James Singleton made a welcome return to action. photo by ALan Weir.

That hope was dashed seconds later as Mark Patton raced clear down the left and Bates tapped in his low cross at the back post for his second and the clinching goal.

That clinches it. Photo by Alan Weir

Guy Bates celebrates his second goal of the night. Photo by Brian Bain

Glenavon: Taylor, McGrory, Marshall, Doyle, Patton, Hall, Kilmartin, Martyn, McCourt, Bradley, Bates: Subs: Hamilton (Bradley 76), Neill (McCourt 75), Marron, Braniff, Singleton (Kilmartin 73).

H&W Welders: Johnston, Devine, Harris, McMurray, Devine, Dickson, Deans, Bowers, McKee,Boylan, Middleton. Subs: Shields, S Dornan (Boylan 80), Whittle (Bowers 89), C Dornan (Dickson 89), McConnell (GK)

Referee: Keith Kennedy

Our Sponsors

The Glenavon Board of Directors set an example by sponsoring the match!

Steven Black (R) presents Glenavon Commercial Director Eddie Drury with a cheque for Ball Sponsorship on behalf of the Armagh GSC. Also pictured is Richard Stoops

The Glenavon Man of the Match was Rhys Marshall and he was sponsored by our Commercial Director Eddie Drury (pic to follow).