Kearns double gives Glenavon home win

No surprises then as both teams struggled to deal with the swirling wind with little in the way of goalmouth activity for the first ten minutes.

Carrick broke free during a good Glenavon attack and Kris Lindsay had to concede a free kick just outside the box to stop the run of Conor McCloskey. It came to nothing and within a few minutes a similar situation at the other end saw Daniel Kearns clipped by Barry Johnston. Kyle Neill floated over the free kick and it was only half cleared to Andy Kilmartin whose first time shot sliced well wide of the goal.

The best chance of the half fell to Carrick as McCloskey turned sharply in the box to get his shot away but Lindsay got in a fine blocking tackle.

Glenavon looked more menacing playing with the wind in the second half and with ten minutes gone they finally got the breakthrough. Sykes cushioned a lovely ball to Marshall, his made his way into the box only to be brought down by Joe McNeill and referee Raymond Heatherington pointed to the spot. Daniel Kearns stepped up and rolled the ball into the left corner for his fourth goal since signing in October.

Jonny Tuffey has little to do for most of the second half but he was alert to two Carrick threats as he denied both McCaul and Aaron Harmon

With 16 minutes to go Kearns grabbed his second of the night finding the bottom corner from 18 yards out after good work by Cooper set up the chance.

Carrick rarely troubled the home side and with Sykes, Kearns and Bradley all finding more space it was a surprise Glenavon did not add to their tally.

The victory sees Glenavon move above Linfield into fourth place, with the rest of the teams to play on Saturday.

Glenavon: Tuffey, Neill, Kelly, Lindsay, Kilmartin, Marshall, Cooper, Bradley, Hall, Sykes, Kearns.

Subs: Patton, Dillon, McGrory, O’Brien, Hamilton.