Premiership

JUST ANOTHER ACTION PACKED DAY!

24 Aug 2024
football
© David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press Conor Pepper gets away from Philip Lowry

Linfield hit five at Windsor, Glenavon ripped up the form book, Dungannon Swifts rallied to pick up their first win and an exciting north Belfast derby ended all square – all in an action packed day in the Sports Direct Premiership!

The Blues lead the way at the top of the table with a fourth straight win following a 5-1 defeat of Loughgall at Windsor Park.

Chris McKee opened the scoring after ten minutes from the spot following a handball, with Sam Roscoe doubling up soon after with a powerful header from Joel Cooper’s corner.

Cooper got on the scoresheet himself before the half-hour mark before Roscoe bagged his second of the afternoon later in the first half.

Ethan McGee added Linfield’s fifth after being picked out at the back post by Kirk Millar.

Ryan Waide grabbed a consolation for the visitors midway through the second half when he squeezed the ball past Chris Johns from a tight angle.

The north Belfast derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville ended all square at the end of a hugely entertaining game.

Ryan Curran broke the deadlock after half-an-hour from the spot, sending Jonny Tuffey the wrong way, but the Crues levelled moments later with Kieran Offord’s third of the season, a calm finish into the far corner.

Glenavon picked up their first win of the campaign with a two-goal defeat of Coleraine at The Showgrounds.

David McDaid fired the visitors in front as early as the second minute with a flicked finish from close range, with Keith Ward doubling up a few minutes after the interval with a low right-foot strike into the bottom corner.

And Dungannon Swifts also collected their first win of the season at Ballymena United’s expense at Stangmore Park.

Kealan Dillon hit what proved to be the only goal of the game on 19 minutes with a free-kick across the face of goal into the opposite corner of the net.