The Scotsman struck after Gary Muir had been brought down by 'keeper Andrew Plummer to hand United a third successive victory and give them a slight physcological advantage ahead of the cup quarter-finals between the sides in a few weeks.

It was perhaps rough justice on a Glenavon side who will feel they had done enough to earn something from the game although, on the other hand, United could have had the game wrapped up in the first half.

Indeed, they were thwarted by three goalline clearances inside the first ten minutes as Paul Carvill headed the ball from underneath the bar after team-mate Jay Magee had headed a Gary Muir towards his own goal.

And Carvill saved the day again moments later when he headed away Gary Haveron's return before repeating the feat once again from an Albert Watson corner.

Glenavon might have led at the break, though, after Trevor Molloy smashed a left-foot drive against the bar on 40 minutes.

They then thought they had grabbed the advantage on 80 minutes when Willo McDonagh nodded home a Ryan Harpur free-kick only for the referee's assistant to rule it out offside.

But just when it looked like the game was heading to a goal free stalemate referee Brian Turkington awarded United that penalty .....