Cliftonville 1-1 Glenavon

INPHO
Author: Alex KeeryPublished 26th Jan 2019
Last updated 26th Jan 2019

Cliftonville began life without recently-sacked manager Barry Gray with a busy draw with Glenavon at Solitude.

Interim boss Michael Press took charge in what's likely to be his only game at the helm.

In the 5th minute Cliftonville took the lead as Chris Curran broke down the left and then teed up Joe Gormley.

The striker was unmarked, and took a swing at it with his left foot, but couldn't connect. It rolled on for Rory Donnelly whose effort was blocked, with the ball falling kindly at the feet of Ryan Curran to sidefoot home from 6 yards.

The home side came close to extending their lead after 32 minutes, with Chris Curran stealing in and hitting the post after collecting an underhit pass back to the keeper that fell short, with Glenavon's Conor McCloskey then forcing a strong save from Brush at his near post.

9 minutes after the break, the visitors pulled level.

Rhys Marshall launched a high cross into the box from the right and Josh Daniels got up to flick a header forward, with Stephen Murray rushing in between goalkeeper and defence to steer the ball beyond Brush.

On 75, the Reds keeper was called into action again, throwing out a foot to divert an effort from the lively McCloskey, with Glenavon looking the side much more likely to claim all 3 points.

Brush was again called into action with 2 minutes left to play, smothering the ball as it pinged around the area following a delivery by Andy Hall. Murray then had a last-minute shot cleared off the line by Gorman, as the Reds held on the claim a draw.