Soccer

Stalemate at Shamrock Park as Glenavon stage comeback

Glenavon's James Singleton celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the equaliser against Portadown at Shamrock Park on Tuesday<br />Picture: Pacemaker&nbsp;
Glenavon's James Singleton celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the equaliser against Portadown at Shamrock Park on Tuesday
Picture: Pacemaker 
Glenavon's James Singleton celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the equaliser against Portadown at Shamrock Park on Tuesday
Picture: Pacemaker 

GLENAVON came from two goals down against 10-man Portadown to earn a 2-2 draw at Shamrock Park in Tuesday’s Danske Bank Premiership clash.

Darren Murray opened the scoring for the home side with a 54th-minute penalty after a Kris Lindsay handball inside the area. Three minutes later, Gary Twigg doubled the advantage in this mid-Ulster derby. The points looked to be safe for Ronnie McFall’s men until all changed with 10 minutes remaining.

Eoin Bradley fired in off the inside of the post on 80 to halve the deficit before Portadown lost Sean Mackle to a red on 84. The equaliser came when the unattended James Singleton beat David Miskelly with a looping header.

The visitors almost won the game when a Bradley effort went narrowly wide of the post with just seconds left.

The shared points mean Glenavon stay fifth in the Premiership table, one place and one point ahead of their fiercest rivals.

Meanwhile, in the County Antrim Shield round one, Glentoran were shocked by Harland and Wolff Welders. After a 90 minutes stalemate, the Welders went forward to the next round after a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win.

Ballymena United eased to a 5-0 win against Glebe Rangers, with Paddy McNally, Neal Gawley, Darren Henderson, Gary Thompson and David Cushley all finding the net for Glen Ferguson’s men.

Bangor and Carrick Rangers played out a 1-1 draw in normal time with Carrick advancing 4-2 on penalties.

Crusaders, meanwhile, had a narrow 2-1 win over Donegal Celtic, who took the lead through Halfpenny on 20 minutes before Diarmuid O’Carroll equalised for the Crues on 34 and Barry Molloy hit the winner on 64.

Linfield chalked up a 1-0 win over Newington YC at Windsor Park with TJ Murray grabbing the decisive goal, while Larne beat Sport and Leisure Swifts 3-0 thanks to a brace from Keke and a James McCabe effort.