Generous Glenavon make it perfect send off for Jeffrey

A signed Glenavon shirt was presented to Jeffrey as he took the applause from both sets of fans and then Gary Hamilton’s side gifted the visitors an easy three points.

Who could fault Glenavon from putting all their efforts into the cup final next Saturday but it seems every mistake they have made in recent weeks has been punished.

For the fourth game in a row Glenavon conceded a soft early goal. Philip Lowry got in the cross and Mark McAllister had plenty of time to hook the ball wide of Sean McIlhone on eight minutes.

The home seide were level four minutes later and it was a neat finish from Tiarnan Mulvenna after he stabbed home a great inswinging free kick from Sammy McIlveen.

However, the Blues restored their lead two minutues later with Ross Clarke nodding home after William Murphy could only help a cross from Thompson onto him.

McIlhone did well to deny Thompson as he cleared his powerful header with is feet.

Linfield forged further ahead on 28 minutes with Thompson finally getting the ball into the net after his initial header was cleared off the line by McCallion.

Sammy McIlveen almost pulled a spectacular goal back for Glenavon on 37 minutes with a piledriver from 25 yards out that flew just wide with Tuffy stranded.

There was a let-off for Glenavon four minutes after the restart when a header from Aaron Burns hit the post and was cleared.

Thompson swooped to nod home at the far post on 66 minutes to seal the win on David’s final day in charge.

Aaron Burns cut through the home defence on 70 minutes to make it 5-1.

Glenavon never gave up all day tried to create chances from their 4-3-3 formation and they were rewarded on 84 minutes when sub Andrew Hoey raced into the box and directed his shot wide of Tuffey and into the far corner.

Glenavon: McIlhone, McCallion, Murphy, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Rainey, Sykes, McDaid, McIlveen, Singleton, Mulvenna.

Subs: O McKeown, Rea, Dane, Hoey, Dallas.