Crusaders 1-1 Glenavon

Crusaders drew 1-1 with Glenavon at Seaview as their lead was cut at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.

Elsewhere, Coleraine beat Cliftonville 2-1 to send the Bannsiders level with the Crues on points, with only goal difference keeping the Belfast club on top.

In a frustrating afternoon, they were simply unable to find an easy way past visiting goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey, although they had started the game with plenty of promise.

Crusaders' Sean Ward rattled bar from 25 yards in 6th minute, forcing 2 more saves with efforts from distance in the 11th and 13th minutes.

Colin Coates then headed wide in the 23rd minute having connected with a Paul Heatley corner in the 23rd minute.

However, the Crusaders captain hauled down Mark Sykes in the box just 2 minutes later and was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty, considering the opener came not long afterwards.

Crusaders winger Jamie Glackin slipped Heatley in behind the Glenavon defence in the 29th minute.

The pair exchanged another pair of passes inside the box before Heatley fired home on his left foot to score his 25th goal of the season.

3 minutes into the second half Heatley had a great chance to score his second, but Jonny Tuffey got down superbly to turn his shot around the post.

The Glenavon keeper was called into action in the 55th minute, parrying away a volley hit by Glackin from inside the box.

In the 76th minute Glenavon pulled themselves level through Andrew Mitchell.

Mark Sykes drove in from the left wing and his deflected shot looped into the path of Mitchell, who stabbed it into the net from close range.

Crusaders desperately pushed for a winner, and in the 85th minute David Cushley was inches away from tapping in at the far post.

There was still time for Glenavon to show they were in the tie as Robbie Norton rattled the bar in the 88th minute with a long range drive.