Larne stretched their lead at the top of the table to eight points with victory over Newry City at Inver Park on a weekend that also saw home wins for Coleraine, Dungannon Swifts and Portadown.

Tiernan Lynch’s side hit two goals without reply past City, moving in front after 12 minutes through Fuad Sule who drilled the ball home through a crowded box after Ben Doherty’s corner was only partially cleared.

Then, early in the second half, Tomas Cosgrove made it 2-0 with a near post volley from a Shea Gordon set piece.

Bottom of the table Portadown collected a much needed win thanks to Joshua Archer’s 37th minute strike against Ballymena United.

The 19-year-old rolled home the only goal of the game after the ball dropped for him at the far post.

And Dungannon Swifts also experienced that winning feeling with a 4-1 victory over Carrick Rangers.

James Knowles kicked the scoring off from the spot with just over a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock before Marc Walsh doubled up from close range late in the first half.

Carrick hit back through Lloyd Anderson not long after the interval but Rhyss Campbell restored Swifts’ two-goal advantage on 76 minute before, in stoppage time, Knowles made sure with his second of the game.

Coleraine kicked the weekend action off on Friday night with a 2-0 defeat of Crusaders at The Showgrounds. Aaron Jarvis grabbed the opener on 12 minutes, with Evan McLaughlin doubling Coleraine’s lead just after the hour.

The game between Glentoran and Glenavon at the BetMcLean Oval was called off following a morning pitch inspection while, in Scotland, Linfield lost on penalties to Kelty Hearts in the SPFL Trust Trophy.