Danske Bank Premiership
Cliftonville 2 Glenavon 1
CLIFTONVILLE kept in touch with the race for a European place on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Glenavon at Solitude.
First-half goals from Aaron Donnelly and Ryan Curran broke down the resistance of the determined Lurgan men, who squandered the chance to take the lead in the opening two minutes when Greg Moorhouse fired over from three yards after a clever Conor McCloskey pass.
Instead, it was Donnelly opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Curran doubled Cliftonville’s advantage with a header on 25. Glenavon improved after the break and pulled one back through Peter Campbell, but the Reds managed to hold on.
Coleraine 2 Crusaders 0
ON FRIDAY night, Coleraine made it five wins on the trot with an impressive performance against Crusaders at the Showgrounds.
Stephen Lowry provided the powerful precision right-wing cross for Matthew Shevlin to head into the bottom corner at the back post in the 44th minute to open the scoring. Aaron Jarvis doubled the lead by lashing the ball into the net right-footed past Jonny Tuffey on 56 minutes.
Dungannon Swifts 0 Larne 2
LARNE put their recent dreadful run behind them with a battling win over Dungannon at Stangmore Park.
David McDaid's close-range finish put Tiernán Lynch's side ahead just before the interval while Martin Donnelly's free-kick nine minutes from the end secured the east Antrim sides’ first victory in five games. Larne are now a point clear in third place while Dungannon, under the new management of Dean Shiels, remain rooted at the bottom of the table.
Ballymena United 2 Portadown 0
A STUNNING free-kick from Shay McCartan helped Ballymena defeat Portadown at the Showgrounds.
McCartan opened the scoring with a sensational strike from 30 yards out in just the sixth minute before Luke Wilson lobbed Jordan Williamson from around the penalty spot to level for the Ports in the 15th minute. Paul McElroy scored the winner with a penalty on 64 after Kevin Healy was adjudged to have fouled Joe McCready.
Late on, Portadown manager Matthew Tipton was sent to the stand by referee Christopher Morrison for dissent.
Warrenpoint Town 0 Glentoran 2
ROBBIE McDaid was the star of the show as Glentoran defeat Warrenpoint at Milltown.
Point frustrated the visitors until McDaid rifled into the bottom corner for a 59th-minute opener. And the striker capitalised on a mistake by ’keeper Andy Coleman to seal the win with nine minutes left.
