Glamour encounter

Meetings between the rival “Blues” seldom failed to pack the terraces but with an anticipated 3,000 in the town for a Black demonstration a much bigger attendance was anticipated.

Glenavon too would have undoubtedly enjoyed its best support, while it should have provided a fair share of good football.

Due to the team’s previous result with Derry at the Brandywell, Glenavon manager Jimmy McAlinden was not in the position to name his team for the Linfield match.

Could Glenavon beat them? Even though their centre-half Tommy Lowry was recovering from a knee injury after the Crusaders game the Saturday before and was not expected to be match fit for a fortnight.

Linfield too had their own problems with their regular centre half, who earlier in the week injured his nose playing against Cliftonville, out of thr panel.

However, both teams were still at full strength and this was their first meeting of the season which would soon prove or disprove that strength.

Linfield were top of the table at the time and were determined to stay there while Glenavon were just as eager to fight back to find the form that would carry them through the Irish League programme.