Glenavon bounced back from last week's disappointing home defeat to take all three points at a wind and rain lashed Newry Showgrounds. It wasn't the best of starts, though, with Packie McAllister stabbing home from Damian Curran's third minute corner. Jimmy Brown's men looked determined throughout and were unlucky not to equalise in the 21st minute when a slide-rule pass from Scott Walker  released O'Connor through the middle and Robinson did very well to save the midfielder's shot with his foot.

Ferguson's wind-assisted shot clipped the top of the bar in the 29th minute with McDonald well beaten and then O'Connor did well to get back and block as Curran and Ferguson broke quickly down the Newry right.

In the second half Barry Curran fired wide from Whitehead's cross and McDonald did well to race off his line and block at Ferguson's feet as a quick Newry break saw Ferguson, McCullagh, Whitehead and Curran all bearing down on goal with only the keeper and Reid standing between them and what looked a certain goal.

Campbell spurned a good chance to equalise in the 63rd minute when Gawley played him in but the striker dragged his shot wide with only Robinson to beat. Two minutes later another great cross by Gawley was missed at the near post by Campbell. Some comical defending in the Newry box saw the ball break to Gawley and he fired over a rasping cross-shot that Verner couldn't quite divert into the net with the ball coming to him very fast and at an awkward height.

The visitors did deservedly draw level through a Verner goal in the 72nd minute as he fired home from Campbell's intelligent layoff. Seconds later City's centre half, Paddy McLaughlin was red carded for a challenge on Shea Campbell that left the Glenavon striker needing treatment for a head injury.

The Glenavon winner came four minutes from time when Davy McAlinden stabbed the ball home from 8 yards after a defender nicked the ball off Verner's toe as he was about to shoot and the ball broke kindly to the popular big centre half.

Verner could have doubled his tally just before the final whistle when he was denied by another great save by Robinson after McKnight had released Campbell down the right and his cross picked out his fellow striker just inside the box.