SURVIVING against the odds, Glentoran sculpted a masterful comeback to take three valuable points from Glenavon at the Oval and to rise to the top of the JJB Sports Premiership.

Glenavon, fuelled by the majesty of their 4-2 victory over Linfield at the weekend, threatened to lift another significant win when Conor Walsh put the side ahead after just four minutes, supported by Paul Carvill's cross and good preparation from Trevor Molloy.

However, scarcely another four minutes later, Glenavon's Tuda Murphy found himself completely bombarded before surrendering the equaliser. Daryl Fordyce mounted the oppression with two stinging attempts that were cleared off the line and a third followed from Andrew Waterworth which was rounded away from the net, before Kyle Neill finally buried it behind the 'keeper.

The war of attrition continued with some intelligent sequences and plenty of attractive play. Stephen McBride has worked hard lately to rejuvenate his side and the occasional flourish from Eamon Murray and Carvill in particular was welcomed by the encouraging visiting support. Glentoran however struggled to disguise their frustration and just 24 minutes in were reduced to ten men.

Ryan Harpur, who joined Glenavon during the summer from the Premier League's Everton, found himself embroiled in a nasty tackle mid way through the first half. But after he collapsed underneath the impact of his challenger Dean Fitzgerald, the Dubliner earned himself a straight red card for lashing out and appearing to stamp on the floored midfielder.

Neill should have done far better to compensate a few moments later but he stumbled over a cross from Gary Hamilton, played into him expertly by Shane McCabe, while aggravatingly close to an open goal inside the area.

Despite being down in personnel, the home side continued to attack, refusing to sit back, but Glenavon's defence were admirably repellent.

Nine minutes into the second half, Glentoran earned themselves the lead after McCabe was fouled on the egde of the box. Fordyce took a deceiving tap on a free kick before rolling into Neil who fired low, hard and with reputable strength through the wall and into the back of the net.

Fordyce to Hamilton who struck with his right foot to force the ball down but when it cannoned back up from the centre of the area, Murhpy was there to make an outstanding save at the far post. The second half was generous to both sides in terms of chances but unlike prior to the break, Glenavon were floundering beneath the weight of Glentoran's attack. Manager Alan McDonald praised his side for their efforts but sounded typically confident in the team's capabilities.

"I thought to be honest that although there was a lot of battling, I also thought that we created the better chances and it was not a 2-1 scrape," the Glentoran boss said after the game. "We were worth the win tonight. It knocked us tactically, we had to make changes to the formation but our players worked well in response. We have a lot of pace and a lot of athleticism in the side and full credit to the players not just for having to physically battle but also psychologically and executing things so well.

"Daryl Fordyce in particular showed composure on the ball and Hamilton played a couple of good balls, the pair link up very well," he said. "We have to make changes for Saturday, whether we use Grant Gardiner and move Daryl back again, who knows? We're back on top and we can enjoy tonight and we've capitalised on our game in hand. People say it is better with points in the bag than games in hand. However, we'll look at our league position when we're at the business end of the season in February."