Whilst Glenavon dominated possession from the kick off it wasn't until the 20th minute when the home keeper was really tested when Walsh broke down the right flank, held up the ball and laid it back to McMahon. His well-struck shot from 20 yards was parried by Madison and he was able to gather the loose ball before Topley could react. Eight minutes later McKnight delayed too long in the box after he got on the end of a good through ball and he allowed the defender to get back and clear the danger. Barry Reid made a couple of good raids down the left wing and provided decent crosses that Glenavon failed to get anyone on the end of. Just before half time Walsh went close when he flashed a shot just wide after he was set up by Murray's intelligent pass.

Right on the stroke of half time McMahon broke the offside trap but took his shot very early and dragged it well wide. Walsh then had two goes at crossing from inside the box with McAlorum just being beaten to the second one as the centre half just got his head to the ball  before the young midfielder.

In the second half Glenavon continued to make all the running, with McKnight shooting wide and McMahon wastefully firing over after he did well to turn two defenders on the edge of the box. He was then tripped in the box as he ran in on goal with the ball at his feet but Mr Lowry turned down the penalty appeals. Jim McCloskey then replaced Walsh and within seconds he forced Madison into the first of a number of brilliant second-half saves that seemed certain to deny the visitors a deserved win. It was the same combination again in the 72nd minute when the young keeper saved McCloskey's shot with his legs and a minute later he denied the lanky winger again! He then tipped Clifford's 25 yarder over and turned McKnight's low drive around the post. Ten minutes from the end of normal time Candlish broke clear and must have thought he had scored only for Madison to make another fabulous save with his legs.

The game was already into the third minute of stoppage time when the home defence lost concentration as the ball dropped in the box and allowed Topley to pounce and drive a low shot past the heroic young keeper.