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

Glenavon’s poor run at home finally came to an end thanks to Conor Walsh’s 83rd minute winner at Mourneview Park on Saturday.

The home supporters went home happiest for the first time since August after what was an ugly contest.

The Lurgan Blues had the first chance of the game when from nothing John Douglas hit an effort at goal from 35 yards on the volley, his shot narrowly going over the bar.

Barry Meehan could have opened the scoring after a great piece of counter attacking play from the home side. Tuda Murphy caught a Coleraine corner and quickly distributed to Meehan, who ran half of the length of the pitch before passing to Lewis Hamlin. Hamlin then completed the one-two with Meehan who shot just wide of the right hand post.

Coleraine’s first real effort of the game came on 20 minutes when a Davy Patton effort forced Tuda Murphy into getting down low at the near post to parry the ball away.

On 24 minutes Neal Gawley could have opened the scoring when he shot wide from 25 yards, and Coleraine almost went in front when, from a Stewart Clanachan throw, Davy Patton found youngster Darren Boyce, his effort screaming just wide of Murphy’s left post and Damien Whitehead almost got lucky when his ball across goal nearly crept in at the back post. Coleraine’s best effort of the first half came in injury time when a Patton header from Clanachan’s cross came back out off the inside of the post.

The start of the second half was delayed slightly due to a problem with the net at the Hospital End of the ground.

Coleraine had a shout for a penalty turned down by Welsh referee Huw Jones when Johnny Cowan held Patton. The linesman on the Glenfield Road side of the ground flagged for the penalty, however the referee ignored his calls and waved play on.

Hamlin decided to have a crack at goal from the right hand side of the box on 52 minutes when perhaps a square ball might have been a better option, but the moment Glenavon supporters had been waiting for came seven minutes from time.

The home side were awarded a corner kick which was swung in by substitute Eamon Murray. It bypassed everyone, but Paul Walsh, who had also come off the bench, played the ball back into the box. The clearance came back to Conor Walsh who fired home from 14 yards to spark wild celebrations but a minute later Glenavon looked a little nervous when Murphy made an outstanding double save after two efforts from Coleraine’s Darren Cassidy.

Glenavon’s blushes were saved in stoppage time when Boyce somehow managed to shoot over from six yards when it would have been easier to score.