Glenavon kicked off at Solitude and got on the front foot straight away forcing an early corner but the hosts scored with their first attack. After Chris Curran’s cut-back from the bye line was miskicked by Joe Gormley, the ball spun to Rory Donnelly whose shot was well blocked by Seamus Sharkey. The rebound fell kindly to Ryan Curran and he steered to ball into the roof of the net despite the best efforts of Rhys Marshall on the line.

Conor McCloskey forced a double save from Richard Brush but missed the best chance of the half when he skied over from 12 yards after breaking through the Reds defence. Josh Daniels also blasted high after the Reds keeper came out of his area to head clear, only as far as the Glenavon winger who probably had more time than he thought.

In the second half Tuffey was scarcely called into action, saving easily from a rising shot from Donnelly, as Glenavon pinned the hosts back and forced Brush into a number of saves including a superb push round the post to deny Marshall.

Stephen Murray got the equaliser Glenavon’s pressure deserved when, in the 54th minute, he got to Josh Daniel’s header into his path before Brush and steered the ball past the Reds keeper.

Andy Hall hit the side netting and had an effort saved, Daniels had a header saved by Brush and almost repeated the assist for Murray in the final minute when he headed the ball on and the striker slotted it between the legs of the keeper but, as it rolled towards the goal line a defender got back to hack it clear.

Photo by Maynard Collins