Soccer

Irish League review

Crusaders 'keeper Se&aacute;n O'Neill gets a fist onto the ball during the north Belfast's side win over Glenavon at Mournview Park on Saturday <br />Picture: Pacemaker&nbsp;
Crusaders 'keeper Seán O'Neill gets a fist onto the ball during the north Belfast's side win over Glenavon at Mournview Park on Saturday
Picture: Pacemaker 
Crusaders 'keeper Seán O'Neill gets a fist onto the ball during the north Belfast's side win over Glenavon at Mournview Park on Saturday
Picture: Pacemaker 

Ballinamallard 1 Portadown 2


PORTADOWN have moved up to third in the table after a close-fought victory against the Mallards. Darren Murray broke the deadlock in the 26th minute after being put through by Mark McAllister. Ken Oman then doubled the Ports’ lead after nodding home a Gary Twigg corner. Liam Mullan pulled one back five minutes later as half-time approached, but that was as good as it got for the Mallards.

Coleraine 1 Linfield 3


LINFIELD’S unbeaten start to the season continued at the Showgrounds. A Rodney Brown header on 23 minutes gave Coleraine a deserved lead but five minutes later Aaron Burns goaled for the Blues.The turnaround was complete when Matthew Clarke found the top corner from close range in the 25th minute. Coleraine’s David Ogilby was sent off for a second yellow midway through the second half, and a minute later Jason Mulgrew made it 3-1.

Dungannon Swifts 2 Ballymena United 0


BALLYMENA can count themselves unlucky to have fallen to a fourth defeat in succession, with two late Swifts goals making the difference at Stangmore Park. Glenn Ferguson’s side had the upper hand until Dungannon’s Ryan Harpur dinked the ball over the onrushing Dwayne Nelson. The Swifts’ insurance goal came with two minutes remaining, Paul McElroy scoring his first for the club.

Glenavon 1 Crusaders 2


CHAMPIONS Crusaders had a Kyle Neill own goal to thank for their 2-1 victory at Mourneview. Midfielder Matthew Snoddy opened the scoring for Crues early in the second half, but Glenavon fought back and James Singleton goaled from Andy Hall’s low cross in the 65th minute. The winner came when Neil’s horror deflection gave Crusaders the lead 14 minutes from time.

Glentoran 2 Warrenpoint Town 1


GLENTORAN achieved their first victory of the season against a struggling Warrenpoint side, rooted to the bottom of the table. Curtis Allen scored both sides of half-time for the Glens, his second making the difference after Stephen Hughes equalised for Warrenpoint from distance on the stroke of half-time.

CLIFTONVILLE, meanwhile, open their defence of the JBE League Cup against Dundela in a second round clash on September 2. The Reds are going for their fourth League Cup win in succession. 

League champions Crusaders were pitted against Knockbreda at Seaview, while Linfield will take on Glebe Rangers. Glentoran were handed a home draw against the PSNI and Glenavon host Annagh United. 

JBE League Cup second round (ties to be played on Tuesday, September 1, except where otherwise stated): Moyola Park v Ballymena United, Limavady United v Bangor, Institute v Sport & Leisure, Larne v Portadown, Dergview v Ards, Dollingstown v H&W Welders, Glentoran v PSNI, Ballinamallard United v 


Banbridge Town, Coleraine v Ballyclare Comrades, Carrick Rangers v Lurgan Celtic, Linfield v Glebe Rangers, Crusaders v Knockbreda, Cliftonville v Dundela (September 2), Newington YC v Dungannon Swifts (September 2), Warrenpoint Town v Lisburn Distillery (September 2), Glenavon v Annagh United (September 15).