One change for Glenavon, Kris Lindsay starting in place of David Elebert who drops to the bench.

Click the photo below for Coach Nigel Law’s post-match interview with the Lurgan Mail’s Gary Ellis.

It was Glenavon who carved out all the clearest opportunities in the first half. In the 24th minute Eoin Bradley was claiming for a penalty as he went down in the box as he attempted to get a shot away after he exchanged passes with Ciaran Martyn.

Jonny Tuffey makes a great save to deny Eoin Bradley. Photo: Brian Little/Presseye

Jonny Tuffey saved Kevin Braniff’s 33rd minute free kick and pulled off an even better stop to beat away a fierce shot from Bradley with Martyn’s follow up shot being blocked.

Kevin Braniff’s free kick forced Jonny Tuffey into a diving save. Brian Little/Presseye

Glenavon went ahead in the 39th minute when Bradley set up Braniff’s run into the Linfield box and his shot looped up over Tuffey from Matthew Clarke’s boot. Despite Tuffey clawing the ball away the assistant referee flagged that it had crossed the line and Glenavon went into the interval with a well deserved 1-0 lead.

Martyn doubled the lead with 14 minutes remaining with a near post header from a pin-point cross from Rhys Marshall.

Ciaran MArtyn celebrates with his team mates after making it 2-0. Photo: Brian Little/Presseye

Tuffey denied Braniff again in the 65th minute when he turned the striker’s shot around the post after he was set up by a lay-off from Bradley.

The Linfield stopper pulled off an even better save, rising to palm Braniff’s shot over the bar as he ran onto a ball from Martyn and it looked like his powerful drive was heading for the top corner.

Linfield: Tuffey Belezika, Haughey, Ward, M Clarke, Burns, Mulgrew (c), Lowry (Callacher 68), Thompson (R Clarke 52), Waterworth, Sproule (62). Subs not used:  Carvill, Ross Glendinning (GK)

Cautions: Sproule 37, Tuffey 39, M Clarke 64

Glenavon: McGrath, Kelly, Lindsay (Elebert 46), Kilmartin, Bradley (Hamilton 81), Patton (Neill 76), McGrory, Marshall, Braniff, Martyn, Singleton. Subs not used: Caldwell, O’Brien.

Cautions: Lindsay 40, Kilmartin 72, Bradley 77, Neill 86

Referee: Tim Marshall