As the club’s well-documented injury problems increased, hamstring injury victim Trevor Molloy was replaced in the starting line-up by Davey Larmour. Elsewhere, Tim McCann came in for Brian Mallon and Niall Hudson took the place of Hugh Dickson.

With the regular captain sidelined, goalkeeper, Robert Robinson was handed the armband ahead of the club’s forth home game in a row.

In the opening phases of the game, it was Glenavon who started the brighter side with Tony Grant and Davey Larmour linking up well.

Paul Carville’s chip down the left flank was cleverly headed down by Larmour into the path of his strike partners run. Unfortunately for the home side, Grant’s shot was dragged wide of the right post on six minutes before Tim McCann shot over the bar shortly after..

With Trevor Molloy’s absence due to injury, the home fans’ opportunity to cast an eye over Grant and Larmour’s partnership was cut short on 11 minutes as Grant was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury.

It was then the turn of youngster Gary Liggett to stake a claim for a regular starting place, giving him 79 minutes to impress his bosses.

However, despite their good start to the game, Glenavon found themselves behind on 15 minutes as a Ross Black corner was cleared to the feet of Richard Clarke. He managed to turn the ball back into Emmett Friars who shot low into the bottom corner from six yards out.

Not to be deterred, the Lurgan Blues soon restarted their pursuit of a goal with Willo McDonagh’s long shot being parried out by Paul Murphy to the feet of Tim McCann who directed the ball high over the bar from a tight angle.

The impressive Davey Larmour and Tim McCann then combined well on the left wing, playing good football through the Newry defence before McCann’s cross fell harmlessly into the arms of City ‘keeper, Paul Murphy.

Former Blues striker, Lee Feeney then gave his old side a scare, his deft touch rounding Willo McDonagh before his curling effort struck the angle of the framework with stand-in Glenavon captain, Robert Robinson, rooted to the spot.

On the half hour mark, the home side began to seriously threaten Murphy’s goal as Davey Larmour’s blocked shot fell into the six yard box where Gary Liggett was narrowly beaten to the ball by the Newry defence.

However, one minute later, Glenavon did put the ball in the net courtesy of a well taken Willo McDonagh penalty.

Gary Liggett was well placed at the back post when a Paul Carvill cross was swung in. The young striker was then fouled by Emmett Friars before McDonagh sent Murphy the wrong way with the spot-kick.

No sooner had the home support settled back into their seats than Newry hit back, re-asserting their one goal advantage.