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Once again Glenavon was robbed of at least a share of the points by a poor refereeing decision. A superb all-round performance by the Lurgan Blues saw them make the Belfast Glens look very ordinary and when the home side took the lead from a superbly worked move culminating in a great strike by Barry Meehan it was no more than they deserved.

Glentoran had the first chance in the second minute when Gary Hamilton broke down the right and fired over a low cross that McGovern could only direct wide as he slid in. Two minutes later Jason Hill barged over Lewis Hamlin on the edge of the box as Gawley played the ball into his run after McDonnell played a ball down the line. Magennis and Walsh worked a clever short free kick with the Glenavon skipper spinning and curling a shot round the wall with Morris diving to his left to hold.

Hamlin and Murray combined in the 15th minute and Hamlin’s cross to the back post found an unmarked Magennis but his header went over the bar when he should have buried it. Seconds later Murphy rushed off his line to block an effort by Halliday before the loose ball was cleared by Walsh.

In the 28th minute Hamilton broke on the left with Glenavon caught on the hop and his cross picked out McCann. It took a great save by Murphy to divert his shot just wide of the post for a corner which the visitors wasted.

On the half hour mark Magennis had another headed attempt from a Neal Gawley cross. This time it was at the front post and he was unlucky to see it flash just inches wide.

Gawley fired over another dangerous cross in the 38th minute which Hill was forced to chest out at the back post with Hamlin ready to knock it in. From Okunayia’s corner Morris came but missed the ball completely and the Glens were fortunate the danger was cleared.

In the final minute of the half the Glens veteran winger Tim McCann was carried off after going down in considerable pain in the centre circle, possibly having damaged a cruciate ligament for the third time in his career.

In the first minute of the second half Hamilton’s cross was deflected but dropped nicely for Halliday at the far post but he couldn’t direct his effort on target, the ball flying over the bar from close range.

In the 54th minute Okunayia robbed Scullion deep in the Glenavon half and raced into the opposition third before feeding Magennis. He hit a rising near post drive from inside the box that just cleared the bar.

Glenavon substitute Sammy Stewart fired a ball into the feet of Magennis but his shot, although well struck, was straight into the chest of Morris.

Glenavon deservedly went ahead in the 65th minute when Hamlin held up the ball on the right touchline before laying it off to Stewart. He played a good ball into the feet of Magennis and his layoff into the run of Meehan was perfect for the full back and he drove a great left foot shot in off Morris’ right hand post.

Glentoran substitute Kyle Neill equalised with a 25 yard free kick in the 72nd minute as he drove it low into the corner of the net.

In the 78th minute Stewart got on the end of Okunayia’s cross and his shot from 8 yards was turned round the post by Morris. Two minutes later Hamilton broke through with only Cowan back but as Murphy came out he was adjudged to have brought the striker down just inside the area despite there being no contact as Hamilton hurdled the challenge. Glentoran skipper Colin Nixon made no mistake form the spot to give his side an undeserved lead.

With Glenavon pushing forward for an equaliser, three minutes from time Halliday had a great chance to seal the points when a blocked clearance dropped fortunately for him but Murphy pulled off a tremendous save to push his shot away for a corner.

In the third minute of stoppage time Meehan played the ball into Magennis and he turned but his shot from the edge of the area just cleared the bar.