Despite once again conceding the first goal against Dungannon Swifts, a solid all-round performance by Glenavon saw the home side come back and deservedly take all three points.
Photo by Alan Weir.
Eoin Bradley had the ball in the net after just six minutes when he nodded in Andy Hall’s cross but the offside flag went up to cut short his celebration.
Eon Bradley heads into the Swifts net only to have his effort disallowed for offside. Photo by Alan Weir.
The Swifts went ahead in the 17th minute after Jonny Tuffey lost the ball in a crowd of players and Ryan Harpur rolled the ball into the empty net.
Joel Cooper strikes a shot on goal. Photo by Brian Bain.
Kevin Braniff equalised from the penalty spot five minutes later after Bradley was upended by David McCullough. Referee Mervyn Smyth turned down another penalty appeal from Glenavon just two minutes later when it appeared that Joel Cooper had been sandwiched by McCullough and Jamie Glackin.
Glenavon was denied another penalty when Joel Cooper was felled in the box. Photo by Alan Weir.
Glenavon skipper and the sponsor’s ‘man of the match’ Kris Lindsay put his side in front on the stroke of half time when he stole in at the back post to head in a cross from the left by Hall following a free kick.
Scorer of Glenavon’s second goal, Kris Lindsay thanks Andy Hall for the assist after putting the home side 2-1 ahead. Photo by Brian Bain.
Three minutes into the second half Bradley had the ball in the net again after he got on the end of Conor Dillon’s ball out of defence but again he was disappointed to have the effort disallowed, apparently for a foul on the defender. It seemed that the ref’s whistle didn’t go until the striker’s shot had hit the net and once again it seemed a harsh decision, the Derry man simply being stronger than his marker.
James Singleton secured the three points ten minutes from time when he headed in from a Kyle Buckley free kick.
James Singleton heads past Andy Coleman to seal the three points. Photo by Alan Weir.
Photo by Alan Weir.
The Swifts were reduced to ten men two minutes later when Dougie Wilson received a straight red card for bringing down Bradley on the edge of the box. That was possibly a a little harsh but in stoppage time Jamie Glackin scythed down Singleton from behind and was shown a deserved red card by Mr Smyth.
Glenavon: Tuffey, Marshall, Dillon, Lindsay (c), Buckley, Hall, Kilmartin, Singleton, Cooper, Braniff, Bradley. Subs: Neill (Cooper 81), Patton, Sykes, McGrory (Hall 58), Hamilton (Kilmartin 87)
Cautions: Marshall 32
Dungannon Swifts: Coleman, McCullough, Armstrong, Wilson, McCaffrey, Glackin, Harpur (c), Hazley, McElroy, Lowe, Mitchell. Subs: Teggart (Hazley 63), Addis (GK), Burke (McCullough 73), Douglas (Mitchell 73), Fitzpatrick
Cautions: McCullough 22, Hazley 27, Wilson 36, 82, McCaffrey 51, Harpur 79, Glackin s/o 90+3
Referee: Mervyn Smyth
