All photographs on this page are © by Drew McWilliams, permission granted to glenavonfc.com

In a game that few gave Glenavon any hope of taking something from, in fact the League leaders had to come from behind twice to deny the Lurgan Blues all three points. Glenavon were the better side in the first half with Neal Gawley getting a rare start and putting in an excellent display until he was stretchered off in the 24th minute with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Aaron Black had earlier failed a fitness test on a calf muscle injury so Colin Malone drafted in Conor McAnallen at right back with Gavin McDonnell moving to centre back. Conor Walsh returned to his best position in central midfield and once again he had an excellent game with the able support of Davy Hawthorne and Adrian Harper.

Neal Gawley gave Colin Nixon a torrid time until he was forced off with a badly twisted knee after just 24 minutes.

Paul Walsh came on as a like-for-like replacement for the unfortunate Gawley and would go on to score a spectacular 30 yard thunderbolt to restore Glenavon's lead after ex-Portadown pair Gary Hamilton and Peter McCann combined to equalise Davy Hawthorne's 44th minute strike.

Davy Hawthorne opens the scoring with his first ever goal for Glenavon as his shot from the edge of the box deflects off the unfortunate Glens skipper, Paul Leeman

Hawthorne's goal, his first for Glenavon, came courtesy of a shot from just outside the area that deflected off Glens skipper Paul Leeman and looped over Elliott Morris. Gerard McMahon had been quicker to react than Kyle Neill as Atiba Charles appeared to under hit a pass but McMahon got to the ball first and then ghosted past the full back before squaring the ball for Hawthorne to strike. The Blues midfielder was unlucky not to double the lead in first half stoppage time as his 18 yard left foot shot came back off the Glentoran bar.

Nathan McConnell's shot is blocked by Gary Smyth

Paul Millar replaced Jason Hill at half time, bringing on Peter McCann and it took only until the 52nd minute for the winger to pull his side back on level terms as he found himself unmarked in the six yard box as Gary Hamilton slid a low cross in from the left.

Paul Walsh then restored Glenavon's lead in the 74th minute with a wonderful strike from all of 30 yards into the top left corner with Morris left grasping at thin air as the young winger picked up a flick on from Nathan McConnell. Young Walsh almost grabbed a second after he was played in by his namesake Conor but this time his well struck shot spun up off the legs of the keeper and was hacked clear by Smyth.

Hamilton was the provider again for the second equaliser five minutes later when he once again picked out a team mate in the six yard box. This time it was Kyle Neill with the simple task of sliding the ball into the net after a cross from the right made its way right across the Glenavon area without a defender being able to get a touch to it.

Glentoran piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes with McCann blasting over from 12 yards when he should have hit the target and Hamilton firing wide after he got onto a long clearance kick from Morris.