Leaders Larne beat Swifts as Coleraine and Linfield win

Larne defeated Dungannon Swifts 2-1 at Stangmore Park thanks to Paul O’Neill’s injury-time penalty.

With a 2-0 victory over Crusaders, Coleraine resurrected its winning ways to stay two points clear of the Inver Reds.

With a 3-1 victory over Carrick Rangers at Windsor Park, Linfield moved up to third place in the standings thanks to Matt Yates’ late goals.

Cliftonville put a stop to Portadown’s 3-2 victory at Shamrock Park, continuing their strong run of form.

Conor McKendry hit a stunning volley that Larne could only get close to before the break when it went wide.

James Knowles’ volley was inches wide when Junior knocked him down, making it the first time he showed attacking intent for Dungannon Swifts.

Mark Randall, who was just starting a new contract with the Inver Reds on Friday, came on top and scored a fine free kick to start the scoring.

Dungannon responded spectacularly just before half-time. Steven Scott rifled an impressive volley past Rohan Ferguson after Matt Ridley had only half cleared a high ball.

When Junior knocked down a ball to Tiernan Kelly, who played in Leo Alves, in the second half, Dungannon almost won, but Ferguson saved his shot.

The second drama then broke out as substitute Matthew Lusty slid into the box to bring down the attacker after receiving the ball inside and using effective close control.

Before Jamie Glackin broke the deadlock just after the quarter-hour, Coleraine had a strong start and had a number of chances.

Levi Ives swung in a risky corner from the far side to help Jonathan Tuffey, who had been saved by Glackin, from close range with a brilliant overhead kick.

Declan McManus had earlier scuffed his shot from a quickly taken Ives corner, but Will Patching’s control let him down when the goal was clean through.

Before Fraser Bryden forced Coleraine’s Aidan Harris to make his first save in the 46th minute, Zane Okoro and Lewis McGregor both made good shots that went wide of the target.

After the break, the home side’s performance was greatly improved, and Lloyd Anderson should have been better when Bryden had attempted to set up the ball, but the midfielder was unable to find the target.

Midway through the second half, Jacob Blaney had a chance to score when he received the ball inside the six-yard box, but the defender mishandled the ball.

Chris McKee scored a sharp header from the edge of the six-yard box after being on the end of Kirk Millar’s cross for the Blues in 11 minutes.

Millar’s assist for McKee marked Linfield’s 220th appearance in 500 games.

With a clear goal in mind, Carrick kept going into the second half, and Aidan Steele’s equalizer came on 71 minutes.

Steele pouncing to equalize for the visitors with a goal that Linfield’s efforts deserved made up for on more than one occasion.

In the first half, the Ports appeared to be the most dangerous, but it was unfortunate not to take the lead when Josh Ukek headed just over the line after Eamon Fyfe’s in-swinging corner.

Ben Wylie was the one who had to go close the second half as he skidded past Odhran Casey before slicing a low shot just wide of the far post.

Minutes later, Ryan Curran’s header rebounded off the upright after Keevan Hawthorne’s cross beat the Reds’ first goal.

Moments later, when the home side ran up the pitch and Jordan Gibson fired home from close range after the visitors couldn’t clear Fyfe’s delivery from the left, Jim Magilton’s men were forced to pay for Curran’s miss.

After the break, Cliftonville came out on top and leveled in the 55th minute when Casey fed Joe Sheridan in the penalty area. After avoiding challenges from Baris Altintop and Wylie, the Reds academy graduate slotted low past Aaron McCarey.

Midway through the second half, Ukek was found to have handled the area, and Curran fired straight into the middle to the delight of the supporting audience.

After Niall Quinn’s errant pass across the face of goal fell short of Ballymena goalkeeper Mark Byrne, who then sent Success Edogun down, Ballymena were given a penalty in the opening five minutes.

Edogun scored the winning penalty on the spot, and Byrne saved his subpar effort as the striker snuck home the rebound for his fifth goal in five games.

However, Ballymena’s lead only lasted for five minutes when Jack Malone’s in-rushing cross from Peter Campbell’s left was slid home.

Michael O’Connor and Paul McGovern were denied before Sean O’Neill, the goalkeeper for Ballymena, made a few saves.

When Glenavon were awarded a penalty with two minutes left when referee Shane McGonigle determined that Barney McKeown had been fouled, and David McDaid fired the resultant spot kick past O’Neill in a gloomy second half that appeared to be going to be shared.