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Glenavon remain unbeaten in the League but will feel this was a
missed opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table, though Donegal
Celtic were worthy of a share of the spoils today. Paul McKnight gave
the home side the lead in the 35th minute when he netted from Walsh's
excellent cross. Earlier Lyons had looped a header over McDonald and off
the Glenavon bar. In the second half McKnight almost doubled the lead
when his overhead kick crashed off the post, with Walsh again supplying
the cross.
The Hoops earned a point through full back Kieran McGourty's 70th
minute strike. He drove a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge
of the area after Glenavon's defence had failed to clear a deep cross
from the left wing.
The first clear opportunity of the game fell to Glenavon's Derek
Delaney, making his League debut. Right back Gary Clifford's cross found
him unmarked at the back post but the striker placed his header a couple
of yards wide. Two minutes later Clifford put over another inviting
cross. This time it was Walsh in the box but his glancing header, under
pressure from the centre half, flashed wide.
In the 20th minute slack marking from a throw in allowed Annesley to
shoot from 20 yards but his dipping shot cleared the bar. Three minutes
later Montgomery's free kick was only partly stopped by the wall but
Brown was able to gather the ball easily. Celtic then broke quickly with
the ref playing a good advantage and Andy McDonald was called into
action, making a good save to push Annseley's shot around the post. Paul
McDonald then fired well wide after a free kick deflected off the
Glenavon wall and fell nicely for him about 22 yards out.
Paul McKnight then gave the home side the lead in the 35th minute
when his near post glancing header directed Walsh's brilliant cross past
Brown.
Just before the break McDonald had to tip another header over the bar
as Lyons crossed from the right.
In the second period Celtic continued to push Glenavon back but the
home fans must have thought that McKnight had doubled the lead with that
brilliant overhead kick but Celtic earned a well deserved point when
nervy defending from the home side failed to properly deal with a deep
cross from the left wing and McGourty's well struck right foot shot from
the edge of the area just beat McDonald's outstretched hand as the
Glenavon keeper dived to his right.
Glenavon could have snatched all three points late in the game when
Evans' right wing corner evaded every DC head and ended up in front of
Johnny Wright but he was penalised for hand ball as he attempted to
bundle in what would have been his first ever Glenavon goal.
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