Glenavon back into third spot

Glenavon are right back on course for third place thanks to a 3-0 win over Coleraine at Mourneview Park on Tuesday night.
Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.
Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.

With Cliftonville losing to Crusaders it puts the Lurgan Blues two points clear of the Reds and means a win at The Oval on Saturday could secure Europe for a third year in a row.

Joel Cooper had the first chance for Glenavon when he collected a pass from Kevin Braniff, but he shot flew wide on three minutes.

Coleraine carved out two chances inside a minute, both falling to Sammy Morrow who fired straight into the arms of Johnny Tuffey and then failed to hit the target - he should have scored.

Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.
Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.

Glenavon struggled for the next ten minutes but did take the lead thanks to a mistake as keeper Johns punched a corner from Cooper off his own player and into the net on 20 minutes.

It soon became 2-0 and it was a superb header by Simon Kelly as he rose unchallenged to beat Johns after a teasing free kick from Hall.

Coleraine worked hard to find a way back in the first half but solid defending kept them at bay and it was Glenavon who nearly scored again, Kris Lindsay launching himself at another Hall free kick but the ball rebounded back off the keeper.

The second half saw a determined Coleraine press hard and they pinned Glenavon back but without any reward.

Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.
Kevin Braniff who made it 3-0 on 90 minutes.

A delightful ball from Braniff fell to Bradley but his header clipped the top of the bar. Not long after it was Bradley again out of luck with a close range shot that deflected away from goal for a corner.

Bradley had another chance to finish off plucky Coleraine but he opted to go for goal from an acute angle despite Braniff free in the middle and his shot flew over the bar.

The best goal of the night came on 90 minutes. Cooper was brought down in the box but a free kick was awarded outside the box and after Kane picked up his second yellow and made his way off it was a right foot special from Braniff to make it 3-0.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Kelly, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Marshall, Cooper, Bradley, Hall, Patton, Braniff, Martyn.

Subs: O’Brien, Hamilton, Marron, McGrath, Burns.