GLENAVON EDGE OUT BALLYMENA AT MOURNEVIEW
Glenavon defeated Ballymena United by the odd goal in five in an entertaining encounter at Mourneview Park.
The Lurgan Blues enjoyed much of the early possession and chances before moving in front just after the half-hour mark when James Singleton headed past United keeper Dylan Graham at the back post after connecting with Aaron Harmon's corner.
And it was 2-0 just five minutes later following Peter Campbell's cross from the left which both Greg Moorhouse and Matthew Fitzpatrick met, although it looked like the former got the final touch.
Indeed, Glenavon might have bagged a third in first half stoppage time. Michael O'Connor delivered a corner which Campbell turned against the crossbar with Daniel Purkis' follow up cleared off the line.
Ballymena staged a second half comeback, reducing the deficit just before the hour through Johnny Addis who rose highest to nod Ross Redman's corner beyond Craig Hyland.
Then, eight minutes later, the visitors levelled in fortunate circumstances when Hyland punched the ball into his own net whilst attempting to clear another Redman delivery.
But, with 12 minutes remaining, Glenavon secured the points thanks to a Purkis spot-kick into the bottom corner awarded after Campbell had been brought down by Ryan Harpur inside the area.
Glenavon: Hyland, Coates, Purkis, Campbell, Moorhouse, Snoddy, Harmon, Fitzpatrick, Singleton, Garrett, Ward subs Byrne (replaced Moorhouse 82), O'Connor (replaced Garrett 36), Norton (not used), Douglas (not used), J. Doyle (not used), McCaffrey (not used), O. Taylor (not used)
Ballymena United: D. Graham, Redman, Addis, McElroy, McCartan, Waide, Hume, Ervin, Kelly, S. Graham, Wylie subs McKeown (replaced Waide 82), Harpur (replaced Wylie 63), Knowles (not used), K. Kane (replaced S. Graham 82), Beattie (not used), Mathieson (not used), Farquhar (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
