All photographs on this page are © 2007 by Drew McWilliams, permission granted to glenavonfc.com

Going into this vital match, third placed Cliftonville was hard on the heels of Glentoran with a UEFA Cup place at stake while Glenavon needed the points for different reasons but, despite dominating the chances throughout, the home side was denied even a share of the points by a last minute winner from Mark Holland.

Davy McAlinden and David Ward battle for the ball

Colin Malone drafted in young Michael McKerr to replace the injured Davy Hawthorne with David Bracken returning up front after his one game suspension but Neal Gawley failed to make the squad after picking up a thigh strain at Seaview on Saturday. Glenavon set up with Ian Wallace and Gavin McDonnell at the centre of defence allowing Marty Hunter a rare opportunity to move into midfield in place of the suspended Conor Walsh. In the absence of Gawley David Ward reverted to the right of midfield with McMahon and Bracken up front.

Sean Cleary’s 6th minute shot took a nasty bounce off the turf in front of Rice and he did well to push it over the bar, in the only real meaningful action of a scrappy opening 20 minutes. Harper’s 26th minute side-foot from the edge of the area was straight into Connelly’s chest but it signalled a spell of Glenavon pressure that produced a number of decent chances for the home side. McMahon did brilliantly to flick Rice’s long ball over the head of McAlinden and strike a left foot volley inches wide of the post.

Gerard McMahon and Davy McAlinden

In the 29th minute Bracken ran on to a great through ball and Connelly was fortunate to just get enough on his powerful low shot to keep it out with Walsh just unable to get to the ball as it spun up off the keeper at the back post. Bracken then did well to break a tackle and fire a dipping shot just over the bar from 30 yards. In the final minute of the half he put over a great cross into the box for Ward but his shot from 8 yards was weak and an easy save for the keeper.

In the second half Glenavon again created the best chances, with the Reds seemingly happy to play the long ball game but Ronan Scannell did carry the ball through a number of tackles to surge into the box but eventually he was forced to run the ball out for a goal kick. Former Blues favourite Davy McAlinden had a speculative shot from the centre circle in the 61st minute.

Michael McKerr's performance at right back earned praise from the fans and the Manager

Ian Wallace put in an important challenge to deny Sweeney a chance to shoot from the edge of the area in the 67th minute but, on 72 minutes, Sweeney nipped in front of Wallace as Mark Holland’s cross dropped 10 yards out but he lifted his shot over the bar when well placed.

McConnell created a great chance when turned his man wide on the right and put in a superb low cross to the near post for Bracken. He made good contact from 6 yards out but Connolly somehow saved brilliantly with his legs.

The winning goal came in the 90th minute from Mark Holland's deflected left foot finish from just inside the box as Cliftonville put together a neat move on the right and Holland cut across the edge of the box to run onto his brother Barry's pass.

With the other results at the foot of the table it really was a heart breaking result for the Lurgan Blues.