IRISH LEAGUE: Glenavon snatch later winner to sink valiant Cliftonville

GLENAVON 3 CLIFTONVILLE 2
Glenavon's Joel Cooper celebrates scoring against CliftonvilleGlenavon's Joel Cooper celebrates scoring against Cliftonville
Glenavon's Joel Cooper celebrates scoring against Cliftonville

Glenavon snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after coming back from 2-1 down to see off 10-man Cliftonville.

The Reds went in front on 18 minutes when Ryan Catney headed an Andy McGrory’s clearance into the box, where Jay Donnelly was waiting to finish.

Glenavon had two penalty calls turned down by referee Andrew Davey, firstly when Greg Moorhouse appeared to be hauled down by Chris Ramsey; and later when Joel Cooper went down under a challenge from Tomas Cosgrove.

Right on the stroke of half time the hosts pulled level when Cooper’s ball forward found Moorhouse. His shot was deflected into the path of Cooper, who nicked the ball past Jason Mooney.

Cliftonville were reduced to 10 men when captain Jason McGuinness received his marching orders for two yellow cards on 59 minutes. On both occasions he fouled Moorhouse.

And as Glenavon looked to take advantage of their extra man, Jude Winchester found Donnelly who went around Andy Doyle before slotting home to double his tally for the day.

With two minutes to go Glenavon equalised when Mooney somehow dropped a Doyle cross with substitute Kris Lindsay getting the final touch.

In the 92nd minute the hosts grabbed the win with Moorhouse turning in a deep Mark Sykes cross.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Kilmartin, Marshall, Cooper, Hall, Doyle, McGrory, Moorhouse, Martyn, Elebert, Bates. Subs: Hamilton (Bates 72), Lindsay (Elebert 71), Patton, Sykes (Hall 79), Marron.

Cliftonville: Mooney, Ives, Ramsey, McGuinness, Curran, M Donnelly, Hughes, Catney, Winchester, J Donnelly, Cosgrove. Subs: McGovern (Ramsey 69), Bonner (Hughes 62), McDaid, Garrett (M Donnelly 65), Murray.

Subs: Andrew Davey.