Glenavon

1

Linfield

0

BLUES TITLE HOPES SCUPPERED

28th Mar 2015

Linfield's title hopes all but disappeared followed this single goal defeat to Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Glenavon moved into the lead after a quarter-of-an-hour through Eoin Bradley after he got on the end of a long clearance to outmuscle Mark Haughey and drill an effort past Johnny Tuffey.

Then, six minutes later, the Lurgan Blues thought they had doubled their advantage when Kevin Braniff found the net only for the assistant referee to rule out the goal for what appeared to be a foul on Tuffey.

Linfield had penalty claims waved away on 35 minutes as they pushed for the equaliser while, a few minutes after that, Andrew Waterworth pounced on a mistake by Rhys Marshall but couldn't keep his shot on target.

And, in first half stoppage time, an Aaron Burns cross was just missed by Ross Clarke at the back post.

After the break Sammy Morrow and Waterworth created early chances for the visitors before Morrow was denied by a goalline Kris Lindsay clearance on the hour.

Then, on 64 minutes, Matthew Clarke came even closer only to clip the crossbar with a 25-yard free-kick.

Glenavon almost added a second on 69 minutes when Bradley found himself through on goal only for Tuffey to do well to smother the danger.

Mark Patton then tested Tuffey on 84 minutes before, a minute later, Linfield were reduced to ten men following Ross Clarke's dismissal for a second bookable offence.

Glenavon: McGrath, Kelly, Lindsay, Bradley, Patton, McGrory, O'Brien, Marshall, Braniff, Martyn, Singleton subs McKeown (not used), Neill (replaced Patton 90), Caldwell (replaced O'Brien 46), Elebert (not used), Lynch (not used)

Linfield: Tuffey, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth, Lowry, Burns, Ward, M. Clarke, Morrow, Quinn, R. Clarke subs Ross Glendinning (not used), Carvill (replaced Quinn 74), Reece Glendinning (not used), Brown (replaced Morrow 65), Sproule (not used)

Referee: Raymond Hetherington

Attendance: 1509

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