Fabio double seals away win for Glenavon

However, it was far from an easy shift against the bottom side at Milltown who made Gary Hamilton’s side sweat with a late surge.

The home team threatened to take the lead on 40 seconds in a swift break with Stephen Moan setting up Conor McDonald whose half hit shot was gathered by Jonny Tuffey.

Glenavon replied with a superb dipping half volley from Ciaran Martyn on five minutes that clipped the top of the bar with keeper Stefan Graham well beaten.

There was nothing between the sides in the opening 15 minutes and little in the way of goalmouth incidents until two in quick succession at either end. First Rhys Marshall could not get a clean header onto Andy Hall’s free kick and then Stephen Murray got free of Conor Dillon to hit a snapshot which hit the post and Kris Lindsay was on hand to sweep the ball away from goal.

Glenavon took the lead on 21 minutes and it came from an Hall free kick which was floated in towards the back post where Fabio rose to nod down and over the line.

The game certainly gave the Lurgan Blues a lift and they began to look more comfortable on the compact Milltown pitch.

Fabio might have got a second with another Hall delivery but on this occasion he failed to hit the target. Hall then clipped a free kick around the wall and into the side netting.

Warrenpoint were still a threat and Glenavon had to work hard at the back to protect Tuffey.

A few minutes before the break a shot from Stephen Murray hit Lindsay in the face and he was not to return after the break with David Elebert coming off the bench.

Glenavon were on top in the opening period of the second half and it was no surprise when they doubled their advantage on 59 minutes. The same combination for the first goal clicked again with Hall the provider and Fabio getting up to nod in his second of the afternoon.

The visitors were in full control of the game at this stage and looking comfortable and Elebert was unlucky to see his header hit the bar before being cleared.

With 13 minutes to go Warrenpoint pulled a goal back after Stephen Murray broke behind and squared to Liam Bagnall who fired home from a tight angle and it was game on.

Glenavon almost restored their two goal cushion with a Mark Sykes effort hitting the post and the loose ball was cleared off the line Mark Hughes.

It was a nervous finish until Sykes popped up to nod home from 12 yards out to seal another superb three points for the visitors.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Dillon, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Hall, Sykes, McGrory, O’Brien, Marshall, Hamilton, Martyn.

Subs: Kelly, Patton, Elebert, Marron, Burns.