Portadown beat Larne as Coleraine draw with Carrick

Irish Premiership leaders Larne’s 18-league-game unbeaten run came to an end after Portadown were the 2-1 victors against the 10-man Inver Reds at Shamrock Park as Coleraine drew with Carrick Rangers to close the gap at the top of the table to five points.

Jack Scott’s strike had given the home side an early lead, but the returning Andy Ryan fired home a leveller for Larne.

However, Portadown went ahead again shortly after when Eamon Fyfe fired past Rohan Ferguson before things went from bad to worse for Gary Haveron’s side when Cricky Gallagher was given his marching orders.

Coleraine failed to take full advantage of the Portadown victory, though, after Will Patching’s goal was cancelled out by Mikey Place at Taylors Avenue.

Two goals from Aaron McEneff helped Glentoran come from behind to beat Ballymena United 2-1 at the Oval.

At Seaview, Crusaders scored twice in the second half to draw 2-2 against Bangor with Linfield the 3-0 winners against bottom of the table Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

On Friday night, Dungannon Swifts completed an impressive comeback to beat Cliftonville 3-2 at Stangmore Park after Adam Glenny netted a penalty in the 89th minute.

Portadown stun Larne

League leaders Larne started the brightest but found themselves a goal down within 20 minutes after Jack Scott fired the home side ahead.

Josh Ukek used his skill and speed to get to the byline and pulled the ball back and the Larne defence were unable to deal with it. The ball then popped up for Scott, who tapped it home from a few yards out.

In the 42nd minute, Ryan scored an excellent goal for the away side after Leroy Millar nodded the ball down for the striker to expertly roll into the bottom corner.

It looked as though the sides would enter the break level but for some more great work by Ukek.

Ukek once more used his pace to beat his man and squared the ball for Fyfe, who fired the ball into the net.

Early in the second half, Larne’s task was made even more difficult after Gallagher received a second yellow card for a foul on Josh Carson after being cautioned for a tackle on Shay McCartan in the first half.

Larne never gave up but, from that point on, Portadown looked the more likely to score next and almost did so through a Baris Altintop header that was saved on the line and a Ukek effort that Ferguson palmed over the crossbar.

The result puts to an end a four-match losing streak in the league for Niall Currie’s side.

Carrick continue impressive run

Joel Cooper was prominent in the opening exchanges as the visitors started on the front foot. He rattled a long-range volley off the crossbar inside the opening five minutes before having his clever finish from a Ben Wylie pass ruled out for offside minutes later.

Patching curled a 25-yard free-kick the wrong side of the post soon after but made amends with the game’s opening goal midway through the opening half.

Having already gone close with a previous effort, he curled a corner-kick direct into the far corner of the Carrick Rangers net past a helpless Lorcan Donnelly.

Carrick Rangers levelled just before the break thanks to Mikey Place’s first goal for the club. The former Ballymena United man spotted a gap in the away defence and strolled through to plant a low shot under the body of Coleraine keeper Ryan Schofield.

The home side started the second half brightly and Danny Gibson had a goal ruled out for offside moments after the restart.

Joe Crowe should have scored when left unmarked at the back post, but he was left holding his head in his hands as his volley went well wide of the target.

Coleraine pressed late for a winner, but substitute Jamie McGonigle was denied by a smart save from Lorcan Donnelly at his near post in added time.

McEneff stars as Glens beat Sky Blues

Glentoran almost took the lead inside the opening five minutes when Danny Amos overlapped on the left flank before crossing to Jordan Jenkins, whose well-struck volley was brilliantly saved by Ballymena keeper Brad Wade.

United’s English stopper was busy in the opening 25 minutes, making further saves from MJ Kamson Kamara, Jordan Jenkins and Ross Clarke as Glentoran pressed for an early opener.

Aaron Jarvis brought a good save from Andrew Mills in Ballymena’s first meaningful attack before the visitors took the lead on 33 minutes.

Joel Thompson headed down a cross to Matthew Clarke who nodded the ball into the path of Igor Rutkowski, who swivelled before finding the net with a deflected shot.

The Glens levelled on the strike of half-time when they were awarded a penalty after referee Ian McNabb spotted an infringement in the penalty area and McEneff kept his cool to send Wade the wrong way from the penalty spot.

McEneff showed he was equally as deadly from further out six minutes into the second half as he took a pass from Cammy Palmer before cutting inside and curling a delightful shot up and over Wade from 25 yards.

Substitute James Douglas almost added a third for Glentoran late on but his shot following a counter-attack was diverted behind by Wade.

Crues and Bangor share the spoils

The first attempt on goal went the way of the hosts after just three minutes when Elliot Dunlop went clear down the left before firing in a right-footed effort, but it was straight at Gareth Deane who gathered comfortably.

Then, in the 24th minute, Adam Brooks found himself through on goal, he rounded the goalkeeper superbly, but with the open net was at his mercy, he shot into the near side netting.

On the half-hour-mark, Finley Thorndike waltzed past at least three defenders inside the Bangor box and it looked like he would score a stunner, but somehow, he placed his shot wide of the right post from only six yards.

The hosts paid the price when they went behind just before the break. Mark Haughey was upended inside the box and referee Ben McMaster didn’t hesitate in awarding the penalty. Harry Lynch stepped up and fired low into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Bangor added a second five minutes after the restart. A corner from the right was flicked on and in came Ben Cushnie at the back post to poke home.

The Crues were thrown a lifeline on 55 minutes when Thomas Maguire crossed from the right, Nixon rose well to head on target but Deane parried. However, Nixon was on hand to rattle home the rebound.

The comeback was complete 12 minutes from time when Fraser Bryden smashed home his 19th goal of the season from the spot after Deane had collided with Maguire inside the area.

Linfield ease past Glenavon

After an even opening at Mourneview Park, Linfield created the first chance of the afternoon when Isaac Baird held off John Mountney and slid the ball through to Josh Archer, whose low effort at the near post was well saved by Jacob Carney.

Minutes later, Michael O’Connor’s men responded when Peter Campbell snapped at a first-time effort after the Blues failed to clear, but the winger’s strike lacked the power to trouble Chris Johns.

Just after the half-hour mark, the champions broke the deadlock when Kyle McClean picked out Fitzpatrick on the edge of the area, and the forward shifted onto his right before drilling into the far bottom corner.

Shortly after, Carney was alert to deny Fitzpatrick a second, stretching to turn the striker’s curling effort behind from the corner of the box.

After the restart, Linfield doubled their advantage when Baird laid the ball into the path of the advancing Fitzpatrick, who fired first time beyond Carney from 20 yards to claim his 15th league goal of the season.

Midway through the second half, the contest was effectively over when Jordan McMullan failed to clear Baird’s low cross into the six-yard area, allowing Sam Taylor to apply a simple finish and seal the three points for David Healy’s side.

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