The Glenavon fans who travelled down to Carrickfergus would have been delighted to see their hero Gerard McMahon starting a competitive fixture for the first time since  breaking his leg back in December 2002. Three operations later, Gerdie has lost none of his skill or appetite for the game though his match fitness will take a while to regain.

The first real notable attempt came after 15 minutes at the end of a sweeping Glenavon move down the right when Conor Devine let rip with a rasping shot which Smith beat away. Two minutes later it was Andy McDonald into the action after Reid lost the ball in the Brantwood half and they broke quickly. The Glenavon keeper had to make a smart save low to his left as Millar's shot looked destined for the corner of the net.

Feeney had a good opportunity to open the scoring when he raced onto a through ball and got there before Smith but he was forced wide and muscled off the ball by McGlade, referee Black waving away Glenavon penalty claims. In the 36th minute Glenavon took the lead when McMahon headed Topley's right wing free kick back across goal and McDonagh, with his back to goal, flicked the ball over the keeper. Two minutes later McDonald had to palm McCartan's downward header onto the crossbar after Hinds had made it to the bye line and cut back a dangerous cross.

Walsh replaced the tiring McMahon in the 51st minute and within 60 seconds he had doubled the lead with a thumping strike from 18 yards that gave Brantwood keeper Neil Smith no chance. Devine immediately threatened to extend the lead further when he volleyed Feeney's left wing cross just wide from the edge of the area.

On the hour mark Brantwood skipper Hinds flashed a header narrowly wide from 16 yards and three minutes later Millar fired a shot across goal just missing the right hand post after good work by Macauley following a quick throw in on the left. In the 71st minute Walsh blasted a low shot into the corner of the net and got a yellow card for his effort after it had been ruled out for a marginal offside. Walsh did get on the score sheet again with a tap in when he was quickest to react after Smith spilled Topley's 20 yard free kick from the centre of the 'D'.

Ten minutes from the end McDonald made another fine save when he came off his line to smother Macauley's effort and Walsh went close to completing a hat trick when he flashed a right foot effort across the goal minutes from the end.