Two late goals saw Linfield open up a healthy gap at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership on an afternoon that also produced victories for Cliftonville, Glentoran and Crusaders.

The Blues moved five points clear at the summit with victory over Ballymena United at Windsor Park.

Scoreless for most of the game, Linfield finally broke the deadlock on 78 minutes – just after United had been reduced to ten men following Stephen O’Donnell’s sending off – when Rhys Annett connected with Kirk Millar’s cross from the right.

Millar himself then made sure right at the end of normal time with a finish into the bottom corner after running onto Chris Shields’ flick.

Cliftonville moved into second spot after coming from behind to defeat Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Gael Bigirimana had edged the Swifts in front on 21 minutes with a deflection long range finish past David Odumosu, but the Reds levelled almost immediately through Joe Gormley from close range.

Taylor Steven nudged Cliftonville into the lead just after the half-hour mark through a crowded penalty area before, in first half stoppage time, Gormley bagged his second of the afternoon from the spot.

And the experienced striker confirmed Cliftonville’s victory with just over a quarter-of-an-hour to go with his hat-trick goal when he pounced to turn home Rory Hale’s right-sided cross.

Glentoran also won on the road, hitting three goals without reply past Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Danny Amos kicked the scoring off on 12 minutes with a left-foot finish into the top left corner after Dylan Connolly had pulled the ball back.

Finlay Thorndike doubled up early in the second half with a rifled finish from just inside the box before, on 72 minutes, Connolly added number three after pouncing on a poor backpass.

Philip Lowry, Harry Franklin and Jordan Stewart all found the net as Crusaders swept past Loughgall at Seaview.

Lowry broke the deadlock on 22 minutes with a header from Kieran Offord’s right-wing cross, with Franklin hitting number two just short of the interval before, on 56 minutes, Stewart added a third with a powerful strike in off the crossbar.

Robbie Norton pulled one back for the Villagers soon after but there was no way back for the visitors.

Meanwhile, Shay McCartan scored both goals as Portadown drew with Carrick Rangers at Shamrock Park.

The former Northern Ireland international inadvertently edged Rangers in front on nine minutes when Paul Heatley’s strike went in off him into his own net, but he cancelled that out right at the end of the game with a wonderful strike past Ross Glendinning.

The weekend action continues on Sunday afternoon when Larne welcome Coleraine to Inver Park, kick-off 2pm.