Glenavon score late double to stun Crues

Sammy Clingan scored a 94th minute penalty to complete a late comeback as Glenavon beat Crusaders 2-1 at Mourneview.

Stephen Murray had scored an 89th minute equaliser after Jordan Owens had put the Belfast club ahead early in the second half.

It was Lurgan Blues player-manager Gary Hamilton who came off the bench to set up the equaliser with a neat pass to Murray, and then win the decisive penalty through his corner kick.

It means Crusaders advantage in third place is just a single point.

Home keeper Jonny Tuffey had a busy time in the early stages of the game, denying Philip Lowry and then Gary Thompson with a smart double-save in the 7th minute.

Gary Hamilton's went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half though, with Robbie Garrett's drive tipped over in the 28th minute, before Rhys Marshall's header bounced down off the bar and onto the goal line with 3 minutes left to play.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead early in the second period.

Immediately after the restart, it took a great save from Tuffey to block Heatley's effort, with Ross Clarke then putting the rebound wide from the edge of the box.

But less than a minute later, Jordan Owens ghosted between 2 defenders to put the Crues into the lead, heading high into the net after meeting Rory Hale's floated cross.

On 55, Glenavon almost pulled level when Conor McCloskey's cross from the left flashed across the 6 yard line, with Andy Hall inches away from a tap-in.

It wasn't until the final minute of normal time that Gary Hamilton slipped the ball to Murray, who took a touch before drilling a low shot beneath Crues keeper Gerard Doherty.

In extra time, Hamilton's corned cause some concern in the Crues box, and the referee judged that Michael Ruddy had conceded the penalty, from which Clingan buried the winning goal.