Super Bates stuns Crues

Glenavon's Guy Bates celebrates after pullinghis side level at 2-2.

Stephen Baxter’s side, unbeaten in the last 16 games, were always in control in the first half and Glenavon were fortunte they were not further behind at the break after Jordan Owens opened the scoring on 25 minutes.

There was much more drive from the home side after the break although the Crues always posed a threat going forward and things looked bleak for Glenavon when Timmy Adamson got goalside of Kris Lindsay to blast a shot past John Connolly.

However, two goals from Guy Bates inside 90 seconds, turned the game. Bates blasted home a superb strike with 11 minutes to go. Bates struck again with another fine effort and it was game on.

Both sides had chances to win the match in added time, Martyn skied the ball over the bar and then at the other end Heatley shot straight at Connolly. Right at the end Hamilton did well with a snapshot but could not beat O’Neill in the Crues goal.

Overall a draw was a fair result and puts Glenavon into a positive frame of mind for the League Cup quarter-final against Ards at home on Tueday night.

Glenavon’s assistant manager Paul Millar, unhappy with an offside decision given by a linesman, was sent from his dugout as the game ended 3-3.

GLENAVON: Connolly, Marshall, Murphy, Lindsay, McKeown, McGrory, Martyn, McCabe, Bates, Rainey, Neill. Subs: McCallion, Kilmartin, Hamilton (McGrory 62), Patton (Neill 56), Gardiner.

CRUSADERS: O’Neill, Leeman, Magowan, McClean, Morrow, Robinson, Caddell, Snoddy, Heatley, Adamson, Owens. Subs: King, McMaster, Hanley, McCutcheon (Adamson 81), Cleary. Referee: Hugh Carville.