Glenavon 2 St Johnstone 2

MAYBE IT was out of generosity to former player Gerry McMahon on his testimonial night but how St Johnstone did not win this match against Glenavon is anybody’s guess, writes Ian Roache.

The chances they passed up ran into double figures, including a penalty that Steven Milne could not convert and a certain “goal” that was was not given.

Tony Grant put the Northern Irish club ahead against the run of play, Jody Morris equalised for the visitors before Milne got a deserved goal prior to the break.

However, Glenavon grabbed a draw with a cracking late drive by Stuart King.

St Johnstone gave a start to frontman Felipe Morais, who is understood to have agreed a deal and could be paraded as a Perth player as early as Monday.

Also in the starting line-up were signings Danny Grainger, Murray Davidson and Kenny Deuchar.

It was McMahon’s night, though, and it was he who led the Ulstermen out as captain.

Morais was the first to force home goalie Andrew Plummer into a save with a well-struck shot on three minutes.

The visitors should have been one up four minutes later but Deuchar’s nod down was blasted over by Davidson from about two yards out.

It was a howler of a miss but the Scots came even closer just 60 seconds later when skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz clattered a header off the post.

Saints were looking in the mood and midfielder Morris sent a low drive just inches past before Deucher rattled the upright with a shot.

With the visitors completely dominant, Glenavon took a shock lead on 14 minutes when striker Grant found space inside the box and clipped a low drive past keeper Alan Main.

Stunned to be behind, St Johnstone struck back just a couple of minutes later when a defensive mix-up led to Plummer pushing the ball towards Morris, who sneaked it just inside the post to make it 1-1.

It only looked a matter of time before Saints got another one as Deuchar sent the ball curling past the far post, Milne squandered a golden chance from close range and then Rutkiewicz found the net with a header only for referee Alistair Burns to chalk off the goal for an infringement in the build-up on the half-hour mark.

Morais then nodded over when he should have hit the target before Chris Millar saw his low shot palmed away by Plummer.

But for some dodgy refereeing, the McDiarmid men would have been 2-1 up.

How the referee did not see Milne’s header go at least a yard over the line is anybody’s guess.

This being a testimonial game an obligatory penalty was awarded to the home side and up stepped Mc-Mahon to take it on 38 minutes.

However Mainripped up the script by saving it.

Having been robbed of a goal, Milne made sure there was no room for doubt five minutes before the break when he controlled a long ball into area then slid the ball past Plummer.

The woodwork was Glen-avon’s best defender and it came to their rescue again when hit by a Milne volley.

Saints, who introduced Graham Gartland for Stuart McCaffrey at the interval, passed up yet another great chance to score on 56 minutes, this time from the spot.

Chris Millar was tripped by Adrian Harper but Milne’s kick was saved by Plummer.

McMahon was given a standing ovation on 58 minutes as he was substituted, while Saints brought on Collin Samuel for Deuchar.

Morais then made way for Gavin Swankie, Liam Craig came on for Davidson, while Morris—the victim of a hefty challenge five minutes earlier—was replaced by Paul Sheerin.

Samuel tried his luck from distance but Plummer palmed the strike away, then Saints almost paid for not putting distance between themselves and their opponents when a deflected shot from sub Shea Campbell flew past Main then rebounded off the base of the post and into the veteran goalie’s arms on 81 minutes.

The hosts were not to be denied, though, and King’s strike was a cracker.

Saints boss Derek McInnes said, “While I was a bit disappointed that things went a bit flat towards the end, we made loads of chances and Glenavon gave us exactly the kind of test we wanted.”

Attendance: 922.

Glenavon: Plummer, Campbell, Hazley, Gracey, Magee, McMahon (Murray 58), Harper, McDonagh, King, Costello, Grant.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Grainger, Morris (Sheerin 73), Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey (Gartland 46), Millar, Davidson (Craig 73), Milne, Deuchar (Samuel 60), Morais (Swankie 71).

Referee: Alistair Burns.