Glenn Ferguson's 39th goal of the season gave Linfield a first half lead when he headed in Pat McShane's cross at the back post after 32 minutes. Gault should have scored in the 15th minute when his point blank header came back off McDonald's chest and Kingsberry had three shots in quick succession when he hit the bar after the first shot was saved by McDonald and the second rebound deflected off Black and was cleared off the line by McMahon.

Aidan McVeigh had injured the same rib he cracked in January so Peter Telford returned to the starting line-up. With Conor Walsh still suspended Stephen McAlorum deputised in midfield.

Paul McKnight had a chance in the first minute when Marty Verner's excellent pass split the Linfield defence but the former Rangers man spurned the chance to have a shot and allowed himself to be forced wide and the opportunity was gone.

Glenavon started the second half well with Verner being denied by Mannus and also just failing to get a touch to Reid's deep cross as it flashed diagonally across the goal mouth.

Murphy then crashed a header off the bar for Linfield and Thompson missed a couple of decent chances. Telford broke a couple of tackles in the 70th minute but his weak left foot shot lacked conviction and never looked like troubling Mannus. Six minutes later a long throw on the Linfield right somehow made it to Ferguson and his lay off was smashed in off a Glenavon defender by O'Kane, standing unmarked on the18 yard line. Five minutes from time late substitute Avun Jephcott scored his second goal in a Linfield shirt when he stabbed the ball through a ruck of players at the back post after Ferguson headed a corner back across the goal area.