The Sky Blues moved in front after just eight minutes. Mark Gracey conceded a penalty following a high tackle on Nathan McConnell and from the subsequent spot-kick Kevin Kelbie comfortably converted.

They might have doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when the ball stuck in the mud just as McConnell was about to shoot.

But Glenavon levelled on 27 minutes through James Costello who turned to fire past Alan Blayney after meeting a Trevor Molloy ball from the left.

And they edged into the lead nine minutes later when Molloy pounced to turn the ball past Blayney after the 'keeper could only parry a Willo McDonagh effort.

United came close to levelling five minutes into the second half when David Cushley headed just the wrong side of the post.

The best effort of the half, though, fell for Costello when he found himself one-on-one with Blayney only for the 'keeper to prove equal to the strikers attempted chip.