Glentoran 1-2 Glenavon

Glenavon came from behind to beat Glentoran 2-1 at the Oval, with the home side playing most of the game with 9 men, and finishing with just 8 left on the pitch.

John Herron and Calum Birney were both dismissed in the opening period for challenges on Mark Sykes, and towards the end of the game Willy Garrett was shown 2 yellow cards - as was Glenavon's Rhys Marshall.

Before the cards, the first goal came after 21 minutes, with the home side making the breakthrough. Robbie McDaid connected with Nathan Kerr's cross from the right and guided a header into Jonny Tuffey's bottom corner.

However, the Glens joy was short-lived as just 2 minutes later, Herron was shown what appaeared to be a harsh straight red card for a challenge on Mark Sykes in midfield as the ball dropped from the sky.

5 minutes before the break, the young Glenavon midfielder was again the target of some over-the-top Glentoran tackling. This time it was captain Birney who launched into Sykes with a late, high challenge, and there was little doubt about his straight red.

Glenavon needed 10 minutes of the second half to make the most of their numerical advantage, as the home side were left with little choice but to sit back and desperately hold onto their lead.

With all 9 Glentoran men in the box trying to clear a corner, Rhys Marshall hooked a left-footed shot onto the post, and it dropped kindly to the feet of Andy Hall to stab home from close range.

Glenavon felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Stephen Murray was chopped down in the box just after the hour, but referee Keith Kennedy refrained from a decision on this occassion.

In the space of 2 frantic minutes, Glentoran's Willie Garrett saw 2 of his headers cleared off the line as the home side tried to make the most of rare chances from corner kicks in the 78th and 79th minute. Glenavon were twice caught out in defence, but Josh Daniels and then Rhys Marshall were both perfectly placed to avert the danger.

It wasn't until the 86th minute that Glenavon took control of the game when Conor McCloskey's shot was parried to the feet of fellow sub Jordan Jenkins, who tapped into the empty net with Morris still on the deck.

There was still time for the ill-tempered feeling of the game to continue as Glentoran's Garrett and Glenavon's Rhys Marshall were also sent off after collecting second yellow cards towards the end of the game.