A busy December continued with a full set of closely fought games across the weekend in the Sports Direct Premiership.

It was very much a case of ‘as you were’ as each game largely went to form with Cliftonville, Glentoran and Crusaders collecting victories on Saturday evening while, the previous evening, leaders Linfield, champions Larne and Stuart King’s Carrick Rangers all picked up three points apiece.

Linfield continue to hold onto their narrow lead at the top courtesy of a 2-1 defeat of Coleraine at Windsor Park.

Scoreless for over an hour, the Blues finally broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when Euan East got his head to a Matthew Clarke cross from out on the wing before, five minutes after that, Rhys Annett doubled up with a simple close range finish after Clarke had again sent the ball over.
Coleraine did pull one back with four minutes remaining through Andrew Mitchell who bundled the ball over the line from a Jamie Glackin free-kick but it wasn't enough to spark a late Bannsiders revival.
At Inver Park a Joe Thomson 17th minute strike was enough for Larne to get the better of Loughgall.

Thomson continued his recent scoring run after pouncing on the loose ball from Lee Bonis’ initial attempt to drill the ball past Berraat Turker.

And one goal was also all Carrick Rangers needed to secure the points at Newry City’s expense at The Showgrounds.

What proved to be the match winner and only goal of the game arrived after an hour when, following a period of possession, Nedas Maciulaitis sent the ball over from the left for Joe Crowe to direct past Maguire.

Goals were a little bit more plentiful on Saturday afternoon.

Cliftonville remain very much in contention in third spot after a two-goal victory over struggling Ballymena United.

Odhran Casey kicked the scoring off after half-an-hour when he was on hand to smash home the close range rebound after Ronan Doherty turned a Chris Gallagher corner off the crossbar.

Jim Magilton’s side had to wait until the 73rd minute to double their advantage, however, when Ronan Hale was played through by Ben Wilson to sweep the ball past Sean O’Neill.

At Stangmore Park Glentoran were forced to come from behind to get past Dungannon Swifts.

Rodney McAree’s side moved in front from the spot in first half stoppage time when Ben Gallagher slotted home past Aaron McCarey after Matthew Lusty had been bundled over in the area.

Glentoran levelled on the hour courtesy of Marcus Kane’s flick into the top corner following some poor defending before, with six minutes to go, Junior Uzokwe hit the winner from a Bobby Burns cross.

Meanwhile, at Mourneview Park, Crusaders produced a solid performance to defeat Glenavon.

Stephen Baxter’s side moved in front right at the end of the first half when Jarlath O’Rourke stabbed home a Ross Clarke cross at the back post.

Paul Heatley added a second on 65 minutes from 12 yards, but Glenavon were thrown a lifeline a few minutes later after Jack Malone’s free-kick from distance was let slip into the net by keeper Jonny Tuffey.

But, deep into added time, Jordan Owens restored Crusaders’ two-goal cushion after rising highest to nod past Rory Brown.