Glenavon boosted its Premiership survival chances with a deserved 2-1 victory against Cliftonville at Mourneview Park.

Paul McGovern (27 mins) and Harry Murphy (61 mins) scored the vital goals. Ryan Curran (22 mins) was on target for the visitors.

In the opening minutes Paddy Burns, back in a central defensive role, headed against teammate Murphy from Peter Campbell’s corner kick.

When Nathaniel Ferris picked out Campbell with a cross field pass the left winger let fly from 15 yards, but Lewis Ridd saved well.

Campbell released Stephen Mallon with a penetrating pass. The former Solitude man cut inside and struck a left foot shot which Reece Jordan blocked.

Then Cliftonville took a shock lead. Rory Hale floated a free kick into Glenavon’s penalty area. Charlie Lindsay, in attempting to clear the danger, inadvertently headed the ball into the path of Ryan Curran who skilfully chested it down and cooly shot past Jacob Carney with his left foot.

Moments later Campbell’s clever back heel gave Lindsay the chance to equalise, but he drilled the ball well wide.

At the other end Curran was off target with a long-range effort.

When Niall Quinn and Campbell played a neat one-two on the left flank, the Richhill man pulled the ball back from the by-line and Paul McGovern shot past Ridd from 8 yards.

After Sean Robertson crossed from the right, Brian Healy tested Carney with a right foot attempt. The Glenavon goalkeeper pushed the ball away at the concession of a corner.

Healy retrieved the ball beyond the far post after a corner kick and crossed for Kelly to head narrowly wide.

At the other end Campbell dragged a shot past the upright from the edge of the penalty area.

When Robertson crossed from the right, Jordan miskicked at the back post. Sheridan’s follow up attempt was saved easily by Carney.

Healy released the unmarked Robertson with a brilliant cross field pass. However, with only Carney to beat, the diminutive winger dragged his shot wide.

The unmarked Kelly headed wide from Rory Hale’s pinpoint corner kick.

Moments later Liam McStravick, only on the pitch for a matter of seconds, got his head to Robertson’s excellent cross but Carney dived to his right to first stop the ball and then retrieve it at the base of the post.

Cliftonville wasted another gilt-edged chance in the opening moments of the second period. This time Healy latched onto Johnny Addis’s hopeful ball forward but lobbed it wide.

Two minutes later Curran headed Hale’s precise cross straight at Carney.

When Peter Campbell crossed from the left, Ferris was off target with a header.

Referee Michael McKenna pointed to the spot after Harry Wilson challenged Campbell inside the penalty area. After a short delay, Ferris took the kick but shot towards the centre of the goal and Ridd kept the ball out with his feet.

Ridd saved McGovern’s deflected shot after a quick break by Charlie Lindsay. At the other end Healy’s attempt from distance was saved easily.

When McGovern’s cross from the right was partially cleared, Stephen Mallon pounced on the loose ball and tested Ridd with a fine left foot shot.

From the resultant corner kick, Glenavon scored what proved to be the winning goal. Peter Campbell swung over a tantalising high cross and Harry Murphy climbed to head the ball past Ridd from a few yards.

Substitute John Mountney shot well over from Gavin Gilmore’s cross.

Niall Quinn’s attempt from distance was deflected wide.

McGovern latched onto Ridd’s poor clearance and hit the target with a right foot shot but the Reds’ goalkeeper dived to his right to make a fine save.

At the other end McStravick shot well over.

In the closing seconds Barney McKeown dispossessed Shaun Leppard and the rebound fell kindly to Gilmore. However, Ridd saved the former Finn Harps winger’s right foot shot with his foot.

Speaking afterwards, Michael O’Connor was clearly delighted with the win. “It was a really important three points,” he said. “We went with a really attacking formation. We had Stephen Mallon, Charlie Lindsay, Nathaniel Ferris, Peter Campbell and Paul McGovern on the pitch. We knew that it would be end to end but we trusted ourselves to score more than them.”

The Belfast man felt that Glenavon dominated the opening 20-25 minutes. “We started really well and were completely on top. We created one or two chances. Their keeper made one good save. Then they scored with virtually their first attack. Heads could have dropped and we could have crumbled but instead we got ourselves back into the match and after half time there was only one team in it.”

Michael was slightly disappointed that his side only scored once in the second half. “We missed the penalty and their keeper made a great stop from Stevie Mallon,” he continued. “The pleasing thing was that we kept pushing forward. Even in the last ten minutes we didn’t sit in. I don’t think Jacob [Carney] had a save to make.”

The win takes the Blues to within nine points of eleventh placed Crusaders in the Sports Direct Premiership table.

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, Quinn, Murphy, Burns, Carlin, Lindsay, Mallon, Ferris, Campbell, McGovern, SUBS: Byrne (not used), Cartwright (not used), McKeown for McGovern (82 mins), Kee (not used), Gilmore for Mallon (65 mins), Mountney for Lindsay (65 mins), McGerrigan for Ferris (90+1 mins).

CLIFTONVILLE: Ridd, Kelly, Leppard, Addis, Wilson, Jordan, Robertson, Sheridan, Curran, Healy, Hale, SUBS: Pepper (not used), Glynn for Robertson (78 mins), Gormley for Curran (68 mins), McStravick for Sheridan (40 mins), Murray (not used), Fapetu for Hale (78 mins), McGarry (not used).

REFEREE: Michael McKenna.