Soccer

Glentoran keep pressure on at top with win in Dungannon

Glentoran's Rhys Marshall gets to the ball ahead of Dungannon's Marc Walsh during Saturday's game at Stangmore Park Picture by David Maginnis/Pacemaker
Glentoran's Rhys Marshall gets to the ball ahead of Dungannon's Marc Walsh during Saturday's game at Stangmore Park Picture by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Glentoran's Rhys Marshall gets to the ball ahead of Dungannon's Marc Walsh during Saturday's game at Stangmore Park Picture by David Maginnis/Pacemaker

Danske Bank Premiership

THE race for the Danske Bank Premiership title took its latest twist on Saturday as Glentoran beat Dungannon Swifts to move above Cliftonville into second place in the table and to within three points of leaders Linfield.

Conor McMenamin scored what turned out to be the winner for the Glens two minutes before half-time at Stangmore Park when he fired into the roof of the net from eight yards out for his 18th goal of the season.

The Swifts went close to equalising on a number of occasions in the second-half, with ’keeper Aaron McCarey denying Joe McCready and James Knowles and Shane McGinty firing an attempt inches wide, but the Glens held out to leapfrog Cliftonville.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Glenavon moved into seventh place thanks to a 2-0 win over struggling Carrick Rangers at Mourneview Park. The home side broke the deadlock on 67 minutes when Matthew Fitzpatrick got on the end of a Peter Campbell corner and they doubled their lead shortly after when captain James Singleton found the bottom corner with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

At Shamrock Park, Adam Salley's thrilling strike gave Portadown a 1-0 win over Ballymena United and moved them to within three points of Carrick and safety.