John Gregg pulled the strings in midfield as the home side created the better early chances. Lamont was called into action as early as the 4th minute to pluck a header out from under his crossbar, and this chance was followed by others which were not taken. First Lee Doherty failed to connect with a through ball, and then Darren Murphy blazed high over the bar when Pat McAllister failed to clear a cross. Coleraine made the home side pay for their wastefulness in front of goal with the opening goal two minutes into injurty time. Pat McAllister found Conor McKeever in space and his perfectly weighted pass send Danny Shipp clear to lob Dermot O'Neill as the goalkeeper advanced from his area.

The former West Ham man should have made the game safe in the second half when he wasted two good chances. In the 47th minute he latched onto a Lamont clearance andtried an elaborate flick which just cleared the bar when a more conventional effort would have paid dividents. Then, on 63 minutes, Shipp again broke clear, but he was forced wide and failed to convert from the narrow angle. As the game wore on, so the home side began to assume control, and they got their reward when Pat McAllister was adjudged to have handled in the area to keep out a goalbound effort and Glenn Ferguson scored from the spot.

1. Wes Lamont

A relatively quiet game with a couple of good saves. (7)

2. Eamon Doherty

Impressive in the first half when he had more opportunities to attack. (7)

3. Oliver McAuley

A quiet, steady performance. (7)

4. Brendan Aspinall

A solid display - took on the role of leader of the defence in the absence of Gaston. (8)

5. Stephen Young

Covered admirably for Paul Gaston. Coped well with a swirling wind. (7)

6. Eddie Cunnington

A below-par display. (5)

7. Sam Shiels

Looked tired, and took a heavy challenge near the end. (6)

8. Conor McKeever

Set up the Coleraine goal with a typically neat through ball. (7)

9. Danny Shipp

Took his goal well, but should have made the game safe from two other good chances (7)

10. Pat McAllister

Man of the Match. Worked hard in dificult conditions, and was unlucky to conced the penalty. (8)

11. Johnny McIvor

Didn't create anything of note. (6)

sub Greg O'Dowd (for McIvor)

Didn't make much impression as Glenavon were well on top at the time of his introduction (6)

sub Michael Surgeon (for Shiels)

No time to make an impression (-)