The Blues moved in front after 25 minutes through Peter Thompson who collected the ball from Michael Gault to calmly send it past Tuda Murphy at the right post.

They made it 2-0 on 42 minutes courtesy of a Glenn Ferguson penalty awarded when Johnny Cowan was adjudged to have handled in the area.

However Cowan redeemed himself a little on the stroke of half-time when he pulled one back for the visitors with a turn and shot to beat Alan Mannus with a low drive.

Glenavon then drew level on 61 minutes when Winkie Murphy handled a Gavin McDonnell flick and from the resultant spot-kick David Bracken clinically sent Mannus the wrong way.

But Jamie Mulgrew restored Linfield's lead with what proved to be the winner just a few minutes later when he slotted the ball past Murphy from the tightest of angles.