Sorry for lack of updates during today’s game due to a poor Wi-Fi connection at The Oval.

Same starting line-up for Glenavon.

Jonathan Smith’s 23rd minute free kick rebounded off the bar and Jonny Tuffey got down well to save his diving header as the ball was played back in from the right.

Smith put the Glens ahead in the 31st minute with a near post header from a Stephen McCullough free kick.

Eoin Bradley was very harshly booked for simulation when he was dragged to the ground in the penalty area by Jonny Addis in the 25th minute.

Eoin Bradley is booked for simulation by Referee Andrew Davey. Photo by Alan Weir.

Joel Cooper’s 38th minute shot from inside the box was well saved by Elliott Morris.

In the final minute of the half Tuffey did well to get out and block Steven Gordon’s close range effort.

Four minutes into the second half and Morris made a great save diving to his left to push Andy Hall’s free kick round the post.

Mark Sykes’ effort is blocked. Photo by Alan Weir.

In the 53rd minute Hall ran onto Mark Sykes pass before feeding the ball into the box for the run of Daniel Kearns. His shot was blocked out for a corner which was headed goal-wards by Kris Lindsay. Morris’ punch rebounded off the back of his defender and would have gone in but for Barry Holland’s header off the line.

Kris Lindsay gets a diving header on target. Photo by Alan Weir.

The Glens keeper then mis-hit a free kick straight to Hall and the Glenavon winger had a shot from his own half that was on target but the Glens keeper got back to clutch it out of the air.

Gary Hamilton replaced Simon Kelly with 79 minutes gone as Glenavon went three at the back in an attempt to get the equaliser. Rhys Marshall’s great run into the box in the 81st minute was thwarted when his shot was blocked by defenders who threw themselves in the way.

Glenavon pile on the pressure late on. Photo by Alan Weir.

Gordon clinched the three points and a first win for Glens boss Alan Kernaghan when his 86th minute shot looped up off the boot of Marshall and over the helpless Tuffey to make it 2-0.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Marshall, Kelly (Hamilton 79), Lindsay (C), Dillon, Hall, Kilmartin, Sykes, Cooper (Patton 72), Kearns, Bradley (O’Brien 86). Subs: Neill, Patton, McGrory, O’Brien, Hamilton

Cautions: Bradley 25, Hall 31, Sykes 64, Kelly 64, Kilmartin 78

Glentoran: Morris, Holland (c), Addis, Magee, McCullough, McCaffrey, Henderson (Hamill 81), Gordon, Caldwell, Smith, Allen. Subs: Hogg (GK), Cafolla, Fearon, O’Hanlon, Hamill.

Cautions: Holland 30, Henderson 48

Referee: Andrew Davey