Three changes to the Glenavon starting line-up with Andy Doyle, who was on honeymoon after getting married, Dave Elebert injured and Kris Lindsay suspended. The replacements are Simon Kelly, Joel Cooper and Andy McGrory.

Simon Kelly keeps close tabs on Portadown’s Aaron Haire. Photo by Alan Weir.

A first league win since beating Ards at the end of August, the only goal of the match coming in the 65th minute, seconds after Portadown’s Alan Byrne had seen his shot crash back off the post. Glenavon broke down the right and a low Andy Hall cross was turned in at the near post by Kevin Braniff.

Rhys Marshall had a superb game at the centre of a re-shuffled Glenavon defence. Photo by Brian Bain

Portadown had the first shot on target in the 9th minute, Robert Garrett forcing Jonny Tuffey to palm his 25 yard shot out for a corner.

Two minutes later Kevin Braniff contrived to drag a shot wide from 4 yards in the centre of the goal after Eoin Bradley played Andy Hall’s free kick back across the goal.

Just after the half hour mark Bradley did well to control Hall’s driven cross before spinning and getting a shot away from 10 yards but it was well held by Chris McGaughey in the Ports goal.

Paddy McCourt and Niall Henderson battle for the ball. Photo by Alan Weir.

Ciaran Martyn was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 39th miute when he emulated Bradley’s earlier effort, taking a touch to control a Hall cross before swivelling and firing a shot that was deflected out for a corner.

Brendan Shannon was sent off in first half stoppage time when the red mist seemed to descend after he felt he had been fouled by Joel Cooper but referee Evan Boyce played on and the ex-Glenavon man lunged into a tackle, catching the Glenavon player with a high boot.

Brendan Shannon sees red. Photo by Alan Weir.

Joel Cooper receives treatment from Glenavon Physio Lynne Carpenter. Photo by Brian Bain

Within seconds of Alan Byrne hitting the post for Portadown, the home side broke, Hall fizzed over a low cross to the near post and the ball was touched in by Kevin Braniff, though Niall Henderson was also sliding in and may have got the last touch.

It’s 1-0! Photo by Alan Weir.

Photo by Brian Bain

Glenavon’s Man of the Match Mark Sykes meets his mini me! Photo by Alan Weir.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Cooper, Marshall, Kelly, McGrory, McCourt, Sykes, Martyn, Hall, Braniff, Bradley. Subs: Hamilton, Patton (Cooper 48), Marron, Taylor (GK), Bates (McCourt 78)

Cautions: Cooper 22

Portadown: McGaughey, Carson, Breen, Byrne, Oman, Rodgers, Shannon, Garrett, Henderson, Parker, Haire. Subs: Miskelly (GK), Simpson, Rooney (Henderson 77), Ferris (Haire 78), Hughes (Parker 60)

Cautions: Rodgers 20, Shannon s/o 45+2, Oman 80

Referee: Evan Boyce