Bradley to the rescue

It was no more than the Lurgan Blues deserved and after a series of poor results they can take plenty of heart from this dogged performance.

Three times they came from a goal down and not only matched Portadown for performance levels, but they never gave up at any point.

Over 800 Glenavon fans made their way to Shamrock Park and they helped lift the team on a day it was difficult to keep your footing on a muddy surface.

Both teams found it tough to play any attractive football, but there was no lack of effort which resulted in a thrilling Mid Ulster battle.

Darren Murray made amends after messing up a free header by giving the home side the lead on 28 minutes. Back came Glenavon to level on 35 minutes thanks to blistering shot from Bradley flew past Miskelly.

Portadown took the lead just before the break, a soft goal to concede as James McGrath failed to gather a cross from Casement and the ball fell onto the toe of Mark McAllister and he fired home.

That goal did not deter the Lurgan Blues as they came out strongly in the second half and it was Portadown who looked all over the place after a series of fine attacks which all came to nothing.

A spectacular strike from Ciaran Caldwell made it 2-2 on 52 minutes but hopes of a first Glenavon win on Boxing Day at Shamrock Park faded when McAllister made it 3-2 with just ten minutes to go.

In the previous league game it finished 3-2 to the home side but in the last minute of stoppage time one last break saw Braniff thread the ball into the patch of Bradley, he was brought down in the box by Miskelly - penalty and red card for the Ports keeper.

After a lenghty wait, which saw the Ports bring on sub keeper Billy Brennan, Bradley made no mistake and it was honours even.

Glenavon: McGrath, Neill, Murphy, Bradley, Dillon, Caldwell, Marshall, Braniff, McCabe, Martyn, Singleton.

Subs: Lindsay, Kilmartin, Patton, Sykes, Forsyth.