In another Saturday of twists and turns in the Sports Direct Premiership, Linfield returned to the top of the table with a resolute away victory at Mourneview Park.

David Healy’s side turned out a professional performance at Glenavon, who had been reduced to ten-men after just 18 minutes after Robert Garrett’s red-card against his former club.

Rhys Annett scored the Blues’ opener after 34 minutes after he collected the ball and turned in a neat finish past Rory Brown from inside the penalty area. Joel Cooper sealed the three points with just under 15 minutes remaining when a superb through-ball from Aodhan Doherty set the winger through to fire home Linfield’s second goal.

At Lakeview Park, Cliftonville were the big winners of the day as they ran out 4-1 winners against Loughgall to keep within range of the top two in the table. Ronan Hale bagged a first-half brace to set Jim Magilton’s Reds on their way. Chris Gallagher added a third on 65 minutes, and despite the home side pulling a goal back through Nathaniel Ferris, the three goal lead was restored in stoppage time when Chris Curran scored for Cliftonville.

Glentoran ground out a hard fought 1-0 win over Newry City at the BetMcLean Oval to move up into fourth place in the table, despite playing much of the game with ten men against the Premiership’s bottom placed side. Shay McCartan was on hand to tap home Fisher’s knock-on from a corner from close range for the only goal of the game on 26 minutes.

The most dramatic game of the day was at the Ballycastle Road, Dungannon came from behind to pick up all three points against Coleraine. Matty Lusty had given Rodney McAree’s men the lead from the penalty spot on 37 minutes but the Bannsiders came out in the second half and stunned the Swifts with two goals in four minutes as teenager Ciaran O’Hara scored his second goal in successive weeks for the equaliser on 69 minutes, followed by another for Dean Jarvis.

With three minutes left, the Swifts came to life as Tomas Galvin equalised with just three minutes left. Dungannon stunned the home side to turn the game on its head when Matty Lusty stepped up to the spot the sixth minute of stoppage time, and although he missed the penalty – his rebound sealed all three points in dramatic fashion!

On Friday evening, Larne ran out comfortable winners at Seaview against Crusaders after a second half blitz to earn a temporary berth at the top of the standings.

After going in scoreless at the break Andy Ryan sparked the game to life two minutes after the restart for Larne and Lee Bonis added a second just six minutes later. Scottish marksman Ryan was on hard to bag his second from the penalty spot on 67 minutes to seal the victory, as the Crues ended the game with ten-men as Billy Joe Burns was sent off for a second yellow card with just under twenty minutes remaining in the game.

Also on Friday evening, Carrick Rangers continue to knock on the door of the top six after victory over Ballymena United at the Showgrounds. David Cushley opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 28 minutes and with the last kick of the ball in stoppage time, Danny Purkis added a second to heap more pressure on the Sky Blues and move the Amber Army up into seventh place.