BALLYMENA CONTINUE RUN TO STAY TOP
Ballymena United remain top of the Sports Direct Premiership courtesy of a narrow defeat of Glenavon at Mourneview Park.
Played in blustery conditions, Glenavon began the game with the wind in their favour and tried to make it count early on when Niall Quinn attempted to fire home a free-kick from distance.
A little later in the first half Jamie Doran could only turn the ball wide from a rebound while, not long after that, Jack Malone tested Sean O'Neill with an effort through a crowded goalmouth.
But the visitors might have led at the break when Aaron Jarvis beat Gareth Deane from Andy Scott's lay-off only for home defender Barney McKeown to clear on the line.
However, the deadlock was broken in favour of Jim Ervin's side just past the hour after Aaron Jarvis was fouled by Len O'Sullivan inside the area with leading scorer Ben Kennedy stepping up to send Deane the wrong way from the subsequent spot-kick.
That proved to be the only goal of the game as the conditions made it difficult for either side to mount a serious challenge in front of goal.
Glenavon: Deane, O’Sullivan, Marshall, Snoddy, Malone, McDaid, Campbell, Quinn, McKeown, Carroll, Doran subs Byrne, Toure, Doona, Lynch, Atherton, O’Connor, Wilson
Ballymena United: O’Neill, Nelson, Lafferty, Rocks, Jarvis, Kennedy, Moore, Scott, McCurry, McCallion, Carson subs Johnston, Gawne, O’Donnell, Brown, McMurray, Stewart, Devlin
Substitution 
Substitution 
