Glentoran's hopes of securing an automatic European place suffered another blow as they went down 2-0 at home to Glenavon.
Goals in either half by Conor McCloskey and Matthew Fitzpatrick gave the Lurgan Blues a deserved win at The Oval.
Gary Hamilton's side have now taken seven points off Glentoran this term, and this latest victory leaves them only two points off a European play-off spot.
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A superb goal-line clearance by Danny Wallace denied Conor McMenamin the opener for the hosts on 10 minutes.
Glenavon were claiming a foul three minutes later as Michael O'Connor went through on goal, Aaron McCarey raced out to tackle him and referee Shane Andrews deemed it a fair challenge.
O'Connor was replaced by McCloskey midway through the half and the substitute made an immediate impact firing Glenavon in front.
The Glens improved after the break but were still struggling to find an equaliser.
And they were caught on the break with 16 minutes to go as Fitzpatrick raced clear to fire past McCarey.
The keeper remonstrated that the forward was offside, but he ended up in the referee's notebook.
Junior came close to pulling a goal back before the end as his header clipped the bar, but the Lurgan Blues held on to deservedly take the points.
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