It was an end to end affair in the U20 Mid Ulster derby at Shamrock Park on Monday evening as Glenavon U20s twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Portadown U20s in the NIFL Premiership Development League.
It is the second time this season the points have been shared between the two sides following a 0-0 draw earlier in the campaign.
Jake Gorman gave the Ports the lead just three minutes into the game, finishing well after being given too much time and space in the box.
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Glenavon responded on 26 minutes when Pat Shearer finished off a good attacking move to equalise for the Lurgan Blues.
Portadown regained their advantage four minutes before the break through Ethan Sousa. The youngster was afforded time in the box and duly fired home into the far corner.
Both sides continued to press for more goals in the second period, and it would be Glenavon who were rewarded for their efforts on 70 minutes
Harry Norton drove to the edge of the area before teeing up Jesse Turner, who coolly slotted home to again bring Glenavon level.
Neither side were able to find a winner as their inconsistent runs of late continued.
Portadown manager Aaron McNeill enjoyed the game as a spectacle and his side's attacking intent, although he did admit he was frustrated at the goals they conceded.
He said: “I thought it was a really good derby and probably one of the most enjoyable games this season as a contest. Both teams had a real go at trying to win the match, right up to the final whistle.
"Our opening goal was full of quality with some great buildup and link-up play, Johnny McCullough then delivered an inch perfect cross from out wide for his strike partner Jake Gorman, who arrived with a well-timed run and scored with a bullet of a header.
"I was definitely disappointed that the goals we conceded which were from our own mistakes, but I thought our players also worked really hard and as a team we looked threatening over the whole game."
McNeill concedes that a squad overhaul has hampered their progress up the table of late, but hopes it can benefit the players’ development and the club in the long run.
“We have been competitive in all our games of late, which has still been the positive, and any game that we have lost was by a single goal," he added
"We are in the process of adapting and finding solutions to life without several players who have now progressed to senior first team football, many of whom would have been some of our most consistent and strongest performers this season so far.
"That’s a challenge we are more than prepared to embrace, as a product of success. For the players, it always provides an opportunity for someone else to emerge."
McNeill has also praised the young players who have stepped up in recent weeks for their competitive spirit.
He said: “We always aim for consistency but with the amount of changes in playing personnel in such a short space of time, it will take time to find that.
"We are still competitive and that is very important. This young group are now also learning all about the importance of game management and how to get results as a group in challenging circumstances.
"That’s crucial learning at this stage of their development as players and will be of great value to them."
Lurgan Blues boss Stephen Thompson was pleased with the character shown by his side to twice come from behind to take home a point to remain in sixth place in the table.
"I really enjoyed the match. It was a proper local derby with both teams wanting to win and this made it entertaining for the good crowd in the stands watching," he said.
"We try to install the belief into the players that you have to work hard and never stop, no matter what the score is. It’s a mentality we have been working on.
"This is a total new squad at this level so it’s a work in progress. Both teams could have won it, but, on reflection, a draw was probably the fair result."
The draw means Glenavon have won just two of their last five games, but Thompson puts their inconsistent form down to the fact that they have so many young players, even for this level, where many senior players drop down to gain game time.
He added: "We have suffered one or two heavy defeats lately and it’s the nature of this league. Obviously clubs will have senior players dropping down for game time or other reasons so that inexperience will be highlighted.
"The mindset is for the younger players to accept that challenge and learn from playing against experienced players. Also as a coach you will learn more from players when you suffer a big defeat and their attitude."
Thompson believes that Glenavon will only reap the rewards in the future of having so many young players featuring at this level so early in their career.
"We have the youngest squad in the league and on Monday night we started with six players from the 2006 age group and finished with seven from that age group," he said.
"Portadown had five senior players so it was a great performance from the players. Most of the squad are playing at this level for the first time and it is all about building a young team with the focus on next year.
"At Glenavon we want the best young players to join the club and they will get the opportunity to develop and if they show potential Gary Hamilton will have no hesitation of moving them up into the first team squad to train. Gary’s record for developing young players is excellent.
"With the development of full-time clubs and big money being spent on players this has an affect of the younger players at these clubs getting the opportunity to train and play for the first team football."
In the only other fixture in the Development League this week, Coleraine claimed bragging rights over rivals Ballymena United with a 2-0 win at the Coleraine Showgrounds.
Chris Cullen opened the scoring for the Bannsiders with nine minutes on the clock before Luca Doherty doubled their advantage in the second half.
Marty Smith's side held on for the winner which avenged their 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Sky Blues earlier in the season and sees them leapfrog Portadown into eighth place.
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