CLIFTONVILLE played for over an hour with 10 men but still managed to spoil Niall Currie's opening game as Portadown boss winning 1-0 at Shamrock Park.
After a bright start at both ends it was the visitors that seized the advantage when, on 17 minutes, a Levi Ives effort from outside the box took a deflection off Garry Breen leaving 'keeper Chris McGaughey stranded.
The Reds were reduced to ten men on 26 minutes when skipper Jason McGuinness was shown a straight red card following an incident with Breen.
Mark McAllister came close for the Ports after good work by Robert Garrett and Niall Henderson only to fire over from inside the area.
At the other end, Jude Winchester might have doubled Cliftonville's lead but was denied by McGaughey's outstretched leg.
Moving into the second half, McGaughey had to be alert to turn a James Knowles free-kick just before the hour over the bar.
For the Ports Stephen Hughes then saw a shot on goal deflected over before Aaron Haire headed wide from a Keith O'Hara cross.
Dungannon swept to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Carrick Rangers at Stangmore Park to clock up a third win in four games.
The Swifts went ahead four minutes before the break through Ally Teggart when he brought the ball down the left, cut inside and fired across Neeson into the net.
Steven McCullough levelled for Carrick on 63 minutes with a superb effort from fully 35 yards after he had spotted Coleman drifting off his line.
However, Ryan Harpur restored Dungannon's lead on 70 minutes when he turned home the rebound after Teggart saw two attempts blocked.
Dungannon's third arrived with a couple of minutes to go after Peter McMahon took the ball down the right before crossing for Mitchell to turn into the empty net.
A Rhys Marshall goal early in the second half proved enough to hand Glenavon victory over Coleraine.
Glenavon might have moved in front inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour when Andy Hall crossed for Kevin Braniff but his shot was cleared off the line by Lyndon Kane.
The Lurgan Blues got the goal their first half endeavours deserved on 47 minutes when a Joel Cooper corner was headed home from almost point blank range by Marshall.
And Marshall almost doubled his tally soon after only to head a Hall corner against the base of an upright.
The Bannsiders did their utmost to bounce back, stepping up a gear but finding the end product elusive.
Ballymena United came from two goals down to win 3-2 away to Glentoran.
The Glens looked in command at half-time after taking the lead through an Adam McCracken own goal and a bizarre second by skipper Stephen McAlorum.
But David Jeffrey's men responded through Fra McCaffrey, Tony Kane and Johnny McMurray to clinch an amazing victory.
Linfield Defender Jimmy Callacher scored both goals to seal a 2-0 win away to Ards.
The victory keeps the second-placed Blues five points behind leaders and champions Crusaders.
The champions dug out a 1-0 win over Ballinamallard with Jordan Forsythe netted the only goal with his first-half effort slipping under the body of keeper Cameron Crawford.
