Irish Premiership: Glenavon 2-2 Crusaders

Guy Bates scored twice within a minute in the second half to secure a comeback draw for Glenavon against Crusaders.

Jordan Owens scored with a close-range header from a Chris Morrow corner on the left after 25 minutes.

Timmy Adamson took one touch and rifled a low shot home from eight yards out nine minutes after the break.

A Bates left-foot effort was deflected into the net in the 79th minute and the forward fired in after a Gareth McKeown shot was blocked a minute later.

The Lurgan Blues looked the livelier side early on and Kyle Neill brought a save from Sean O'Neill, while McKeown shot over.

At the other end, Declan Caddell had a glancing header cleared off the line by the head of David Rainey.

Owens rose to score his 11th goal of the season and when Adamson found himself in acres of space to add the second, it looked like the Crues had maximums point in the bag.

Bates had claims for a penalty turned down, but reduced the deficit by shooting past O'Neill with 11 minutes remaining.

The striker then followed up on McKeown's initial effort to level, with Ciaran Martyn firing over from close range soon after as the home side pushed for a winner.

Both sides had late chances, Paul Heatley having a left-foot shot saved.

"I didn't think we deserved to be two goals down at half-time and we showed good character in the second half," said Glenavon boss Paul Millar.

Crusaders lie second, six points behind leaders Linfiled, with Glenavon dropping to fifth spot in the Premiership.