Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 18^th April 2026

Glenavon’s brave bid for Premiership survival ended with this narrow 1-0 defeat against Crusaders.

Fraser Bryden (52 mins) scored the crucial goal.

Michael O’Connor’s side started well and put the North Belfast club under sustained pressure.

Paddy Burns’s header from Peter Campbell’s free kick on the left was saved easily by Musa Dibaga Nimaga.

Jordan Forsythe’s ambitious attempt from a free kick on the halfway line did not trouble Jacob Carney.

Peter Campbell’s snapshot following a corner kick taken by Paul McGovern flew high and wide.

Glenavon had the ball in the net after 13 minutes, but Burns’s effort was adjudged offside. The full back turned sharply and shot past Dibaga Nimaga after Nathaniel Ferris had headed a clearance from Campbell’s free kick back into the danger area.

Alas, his celebrations were cut shot by the assistant referee’s flag.

Crusaders’ first serious attack did not come until the 25^th minute. Elliot Dunlop crossed low and Adam Brooks let fly but his weak shot was straight at Carney.

Campbell found McGovern with a clever free kick but the Newry teenager’s cross cum shot was saved at the near post by Dibaga Nimaga.

Harry Murphy’s back post header from a corner kick was well wide.

Lewis Barr was unable to get a touch to Josh Williamson’s dangerous cross from a free kick wide on the left.

Kurtis Forsythe threatened with a penetrating run but his shot from 20 yards was just off target.

Glenavon was again on top early in the second half. Campbell’s cross from a free kick on the right slipped inches past the far post as Murphy stretched to divert it to the net.

Bryden’s crucial goal followed a series of throw ins on the left touchline. Eventually Cameron Bruce delivered an inviting cross, and the Scotsman shot past Carney from six yards.

Thereafter Crusaders defended resolutely and gave Glenavon’s forwards very few shooting opportunities.

Substitute Kris Lowe’s half volley went narrowly over the crossbar.

Campbell’s well hit daisy cutter was blocked by a defender.

Bryden’s attempted clearance from McGovern’s corner kick was stopped by Bruce and Dibaga Nimaga dived to smother the loose ball as Glenavon players claimed in vain that it had crossed the goal line.

Dibaga Nimaga dived full length to save Peter Campbell’s well hit free kick.

At the other end Jordan McMullan made a brilliant interception as Stewart Nixon’s low cross seemed certain to be bundled into the net by Keiran McKechnie.

Elliot Dunlop shot well wide after another Crusaders’ breakaway.

In the closing moments Jordan Forsythe was sent off for a rash challenge on Kris Lowe.

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, Burns, Murphy, McKeown, Carlin, Wilson, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Campbell, SUBS: O’Kane (not used), Lowe for Wilson (57 mins), Gilmore for Murphy (85 mins), Harkin (not used), Lindsay (not used), Quinn for McKeown (66 mins), Mountney for Carlin (85 mins).

Yellow Cards: Wilson (16’), Falls (45+3’).

CRUSADERS: Dibaga Nimaga, K. Forsythe, Bruce, Williamson, McKechnie, Weir, Barr, J. Forsythe, Bryden, Brooks, Dunlop, SUBS: Blaney (not used), Jewitt-White for Williamson (80 mins), Thorndike for Brooks (80 mins), Nixon for Bryden (76 mins), Maguire (not used), Rough (not used), Anderson for Weir (45+2’).

Yellow Cards: K. Forsythe (13’), J. Forsythe (33’), Weir (42’), Jewitt-White (86’), Dibaga Nimaga (90+4’), Nixon (90+5’).

Red Card: J. Forsythe (90+3’).

REFEREE: Tony Clarke.