Match Action vs Glenavon

HIGHLIGHTS from the Bannsiders’ 2-1 win against Glenavon can now be viewed on the club’s official YouTube account…

The Bannsiders would cut the gap at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership to four points after edging out the Lurgan Blues at The Showgrounds.

The hosts made a bright start to proceedings and threatened after five minutes when James McLaughlin fired over the crossbar after being found by Lyndon Kane, before Glenavon stopper Jonathan Tuffey was called into action to deny Stewart Nixon.

However, the deadlock was broken on 12 minutes as McLaughlin released his strike partner Nixon who calmly slotted past Tuffey for his first goal since arriving in the January transfer window. The visitors will feel they should have levelled on 25 minutes as Conor McCloskey’s cross found Jordan Jenkins inside the box but he failed to convert from close range.

Coleraine would grab a deserved second on 34 minutes as McLaughlin was found by Nixon and he finished with aplomb for his third goal in four matches, with the goalkeeping efforts of Tuffey denying the aforementioned pair further goals before the break.

The Stripes should have secured all three points on 54 minutes as Nixon was unable to convert on the goal line from Aaron Jarvis’ knock down, before Glenavon set-up a grandstand finish as Conor McCloskey fired in a free-kick from 20 yards out.