Glenavon 3 Glentoran 3

Today at Lurgan everyone there witnessed a classic game of football which was a credit to the Irish League, fast open play, two super goals by Kennedy and Elliott of Glentoran and plenty of near misses.

Glenavon started the goal spree in eight minutes when Baxter headed the ball down to Grant to score the first of his three goals. I really felt that the Glentoran defence should have cleared the ball but Grant scored at the near post.

Two minutes later the Glens were level when Centre back McCombe tapped the ball in again from close range. This was the sign from Glentoran to turn the pressure up and Elliott was brought down by Dornan who I feel should have been booked from the challenge and then Rainey fired just wide.

Glentoran's new signing Ian Gilzean was trying hard but had a weak header saved by the Glenavon goalkeeper Phillip Matthews. I

In 27 minutes Grant scored his second and sent Glenavon into a 2-1 lead when he beat Walker to hammer the ball into the net giving Alan Gough the Glentoran keeper no chance.

In the 35 minute Dornan was injured and substitute Brian Adrain came on. So Half-Time arrived Glenavon leading 2-1.

The second half started with Glentoran pressure, a Gilzean header just over and a Scott Young drive also just over from 25 yards but then in the 51st minute a super goal. The ball came out to John Kennedy and a powerful left foot drive from all of 30 yards ripped the back of the net.

The Glenavon sub Adrain was taken off and Ryan Evans replaced him at the same time Ally McCombe was injured with Pete Batey coming on.

Glenavon again went in front in the 61st minute from a free kick when Grant scored his hat trick after what looked like a foul on the Glentoran keeper by Spiers who lay in injured for several minutes. But Glentoran were not finished and Stuart Elliott scored probably the best of the 6 goals with a glorious free kick from 25 yards.

Several more players were booked as play really hotted up by Glentoran in search of the winner, Glendinning, Batey and Walker all going into the referee's book but with a couple off minutes left Glentoran's Elliott missed when it looked easier to score and on the whistle McCann headed over.

I think Glenavon will be happier with the one point than Glentoran who on todays performance deserved all three points, but today that the goal scoring touch that had left them is coming back again