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

Gerard McMahon slides the opener past a helpless Neil Armstrong

After Davy Hawthorne was injured in the warm up Colin Malone was forced into a quick reshuffle, promoting Ian Wallace to the starting line-up and restoring Adrian Harper to a midfield role with Nathan McConnell starting on the bench after his long spell out with an ankle injury.

A twice-taken free kick ultimately cost Glenavon all three points after skipper Gerard McMahon had given his side the lead in the 36th minute with David Ward providing the assist from Harper's throw in. Five minutes earlier David Rainey had spurned a great chance for the home side when he side-footed across the goal wide of the far post after a great ball from Stephen Shaw had set up the chance.

Gavin McDonnell leads a breakout from defence with Stephen Magennis

Crusaders had forced the first clear chance in the 7th minute when Chris Morrow's back post header from Shaw's corner seemed to come back off the post and two minutes later Rice held onto Larmour's deflected 18 yard shot. Conor Walsh, playing in what could be his last game of the season, drew a save from Armstrong with a long range effort in the 13th minute before Gargan for the home side and Paul Walsh for Glenavon saw shots flash wide.

In the 33rd minute Paul Walsh's shot was blocked and David Ward forced the ball through to McMahon but he fired over the bar from 6 yards out. The Glenavon skipper made amends three minutes later when Ward again fed him in, this time McMahon made no mistake with a cool finish into the bottom corner with the outside of his right foot.

On the stroke of half time Glenavon had strong claims for a penalty waved away by referee David Dunlop as Andy Hunter seemed to bring down Conor Walsh with a clumsy challenge.

In a poor second half Larmour had the best chances for the hosts but he fired straight at Rice from Tumelty's corner before McMahon was played in by Gawley but, stretching, he couldn't get enough on his 18 yard shot to really trouble Armstrong.

Crusaders scored a controversial equaliser after Rice had made a brilliant save to tip McBride's initial left-footed free kick over the bar but the referee ordered the kick to be re-taken. This time Bond took the kick with his right and Rainey popped up at the back post to head in. In stoppage time Tumelty had a chance to grab all three points but he blasted Barry Reid's cross over from 8 yards.