Glenavon

3

Portadown

2

LURGAN BLUES SECURE EUROPA LEAGUE SLOT

18th Apr 2015

Glenavon booked their place in the Europa League following this dramatic Mourneview Park defeat of neighbours Portadown.

The Lurgan Blues seized the advantage as early as the seventh minute after Ports 'keeper David Miskelly completely misjudged a Kevin Braniff corner with the ball eventually falling free for James Singleton to bundle over the line.

And Miskelly was at fault for Glenavon's second just after half-an-hour when he failed to deal with a backpass allowed Eoin Bradley to touch the ball into the empty net.

That was how it stayed until an amazing final quarter.

Glenavon were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes when Singleton was dismissed following an incident which also produced bookings for Portadown's Michael Gault and Ken Oman.

Peter McMahon pulled one back for the Ports ten minutes later with a superbly executed right-foot half volley into the top corner in off the underside of the crossbar.

Then, five minutes after that, Glenavon 'keeper James McGrath made a mistake at the near post with Gary Twigg appearing to get the final touch to turn the ball over the line.

But, one minute into added time, Ross Redman upended Bradley in the area and from the resultant spot-kick Andy McGrory stepped up to send Miskelly the wrong way and secure that place in Europe.

Glenavon: McGrath, Kelly, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Bradley, Patton, McGrory, Marshall, Braniff, Martyn, Singleton subs McKeown (not used), Neill (replaced Patton 76), Hamilton (replaced Braniff 86), O'Brien (not used), Elebert (replaced Hamilton 90+2)

Portadown: Miskelly, Casement, Redman, O'Hara, McMahon, Mackle, McAllister, Oman, Gault, Twigg, Garrett subs Brennan (not used), Murray (replaced McAllister 57), Conaty (not used), Lyttle (not used), Ramsey (not used)

Referee: Raymond Crangle

Attendance: 1564

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