Glenavon safe despite last gasp scare

Gary McCutcheon's brace was enough to secure victory for Ballymena over Distillery, sending the Whites into the play-off.

Glenavon should have had their own fate secured after Brian McCaul's double put them 2-0 ahead but again they surrendered their lead.

Dungannon dominated the first half but still went in trailing at half-time after Glenavon opened the scoring on just four minutes. Brian McCaul's low 20 yard effort squirmed under Dungannon stopper Niall Morgan.

However, the Swifts reacted better to the goal and missed a plethora of chances.

They had a brilliant chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty for Jay Magee's handball on Michael Ward's shot.

Andy Coleman made a fantastic save from Emmet Friars' spot-kick, diving low to his right and Ward then blasted over a chance of his own from 12 yards.

The forward did test Coleman a minute before the break though, rifling a shot at the keeper who palmed it to safety.

After half-time, McCaul made it 2-0, this time from the penalty spot as he slid the ball into the bottom corner after Jonny Topley had tripped Niall Henderson.

On 73 minutes, Terry Fitzpatrick made the Blues nervous as his long range effort deflected off Jay Magee, over Andy Coleman and in.

Those nerves didn't last as, elsewhere, Gary McCutcheon netted a brace for Ballymena against Distillery, all but securing the Whites' spot in the play-off.

And it was just as well for Glenavon too as Emmet Friars made it 2-2 in injury time. That meant the Blues had conceded four injury time equalisers in five matches but it wasn't to matter as both Dungannon and Glenavon steered clear of the dreaded play-off.