Glenavon put in a great first half performance but went in to the interval only leading by a single Marty Verner goal thanks to the heroics of former Mourneview keeper Paul Rice. He denied O'Connor, Walsh and McMahon before Verner ran onto Walsh's through ball and rounded him to roll the ball into the empty net.  He also pulled off further saves from Black and Walsh to keep the score down to 0-1 at half time.

McAlinden went close in the third minute as he hit the side netting then Rice parried Walsh's 18 yard shot with McKnight making a mess of the follow up from the loose ball. Rice saved O'Connor's header in the 9th minute with the rebound again almost falling for a Glenavon player, in this case Black, but it was hacked clear as he was about to strike.

McMahon had a gilt-edged chance in the 13th minute when McKnight's pass set him up just inside the edge of the box but he hit his shot straight at the exposed Rice. McAlinden shot wide when well placed as he got on the end of McMahon's header back across the goal mouth in the 22nd minute. Glenavon eventually took the lead their play deserved when Campbell failed to cut out Walsh's measured through ball and Verner was able to take it in his stride before rounding Rice and sliding the ball into the unguarded net.

Early in the second half McKnight's corner crashed back off the near post and his follow up was deflected for another corner and Black had a chipped effort drift just wide.

McSourley fired a long range effort well wide of an open goal in the 63rd minute after Glenavon's debutant keeper Kyle Nelson came out of his area but failed to clear the ball. The young keeper made a good save to keep out Ward's close range effort as Glenavon failed to deal with Shea Campbell's free kick into the box. Meehan should have done much better in the 73rd minute when Ward's good work on the right set up a chance for him but he fired weakly straight at Nelson.

The clincher for Glenavon came 12 minutes from time when McGauley turned Verner's low cross into his own net. Sixty seconds later and Walsh grabbed his first of a double when his shot was deflected past the helpless Rice. The midfielder capped a fine performance when he raced onto McVeigh's pass, rounded Rice and slotted home from a tight angle in the final minute.

With Institute claiming an unexpected 1-0 victory at Shamrock Park, the fight to avoid the promotion-relegation playoff spot goes to the final game of the season, with Larne now also joining Glenavon and 'Stute as one of the three possible clubs who could face a play-off against Donegal Celtic. Glenavon at least know that a win next week at home to Limavady will make them safe.