TUDA SEES RED

Glenavon 'keeper Tuda Murphy had only touched the ball once before he brought down Colm Kearney on the edge of the box, leaving Referee Arnold Hunter no option but to show him the red card. The game was only three minutes old as the Cayman Islander forlornly trudged off the ground where he had started his Irish League career. With no 'keeper named among the five substitutes, Gerard McMahon donned the goalkeeper's jersey. Six minutes later DC took the lead when Kearney headed on a long ball into the box and hesitant defending allowed Paul McVeigh the space to drill a shot past McMahon.

Kearney wasted chances to extend the lead when he miss-kicked McVeigh's cross and then dragged a shot wide when he once again raced clear. In between Conor Walsh glanced a header wide from Donnelly's free kick. Mark Turkington came to Glenavon's rescue in the 27th minute when his last-ditch tackle denied Kearney an effort from close range as he again found space from McAlorum's through ball. Glenavon immediately broke and Harbinson in the DC goal saved well from Murray's shot.

In the 37th minute Glenavon fan's hearts were in their mouths as once again Kearney broke the defensive line and was brought down on the edge of the box by Gavin McDonnell who was perhaps fortunate to get away with just a yellow card.

In first half stoppage time Trevor Molloy tricked his way past several players in the DC box and was brought down by David Munster. Molloy took the spot kick himself but, having sent Harbinson the wrong way he hit the post and the ball rebounded to safety.

In a tactical switch, Terry Cochrane replaced McDonnell with Adrian Harper at half time, Conor Walsh dropping back to the centre of defence and the change seemed to have a positive effect. Glenavon played the better football in the second half despite DC's numerical advantage but couldn't find a way past Harbinson. Eamon Murray had the best chance when he played a long ball from his own penalty area up to Molloy. He held it up and squared the ball across the edge of the DC box for the on-rushing Murray to strike but his attempted shot over the keeper was taken fairly comfortably.

Harper had a shot charged down in the 84th minute and he then scooped the rebound wide as Glenavon pressed DC back looking for the equaliser but in the final minute of stoppage time DC finally sealed the three points when McVeigh stabbed home his second of the match. Stand-in keeper McMahon made a great save to push Hamill's 8 yard shot wide but in the resulting scramble, with another shot being cleared off the line, the ball was eventually forced over the line.

TC's Comments

"At the end of the day you couldn't write that script. Goal keeper sent off in the first minute and everything involved with the centre backs. I changed it at half time as it wasn't working too well. I put Walsh in at centre back because he played well against St. Pat's and it worked. With Harper and Donnelly in midfield it looked like things are coming together. It's just unfortunate we got beaten today but if we battle like that in every game we'll get something from it.

"I'm proud of the lads, the way they played, especially second half. We put them onto the back foot in the second half. It was a good performance second half from a team that is still building. They're starting to play as if they want to play and that's a good sign.

"I've got to go and see if I can get a goal keeper. The other big lad (Paul Cairnduff) has a broken toe so he's out and the other keeper Buchanan is a good keeper but he's too young so I don't think I could put him in for that game (against Limavady) as it will be a big test."