Not much to choose between the sides in the first half with the wind sweeping down the pitch at the Glenavon players’ backs. James Singleton headed over from an Andy Hall corner and Ross Glendinning pulled off a superb save to turn Bobby Burns’ volley round the post. Jim Ervin cleared a Burns header off the line as the 17-year old, playing up front with Andrew Mitchell, met a Hall corner.

At the other end Matthew Shevlin had the best chances for the Sky Blues but Jonny Tuffey pulled off two great saves to deny him.

Glenavon went in front three minutes into the second half when Burns put his man under pressure and Mark Sykes gained possession before feeding the ball out to Adam Foley. He strode into the box before blasting in a shot beyond the reach of Glendinning.

Singleton pounced on a loose ball from Hall’s corner to fire in a second Glenavon goal in the 65th minute and Sammy Clingan made it 3-0 from the spot five minutes later after Glendinning dragged Burns down after the Glenavon player had touched the ball past him.

Hall smashed in a fantastic free kick that hit the top corner from 30 yards in the 72nd minute following a foul on Sykes.

A Tony Kane penalty, awarded when Singleton brought Cathar Friel down ten minutes from time was quickly cancelled out with a wonderful strike into the top corner from 25 yards by Burns who continues to impress this season.

What no goal from Mitchell? The striker did get on the scoresheet in stoppage time when he got the final touch to a McGrory corner to complete a top-class performance from him and the whole Glenavon team.