The Sports Direct Premiership just never disappoints, and today was no exception with big results scattered across the full schedule of six games on offer.

Ballymena United, Carrick Rangers, Dungannon Swifts, Portadown and Coleraine all collected three points apiece from the 3pm kick-offs while Linfield made a huge statement as the leaders defeated champions Larne in the evening kick-off at Inver Park.

Just one goal was needed to settle the game, and it came after just nine minutes when Joel Cooper unleashed a low, hard shot past Rohan Ferguson at the near post.

That win moves Linfield eight points clear at the top, ahead of both Cliftonville and Ballymena United.

The pair met at Solitude, a game that also required a single goal to determine the winner with Andy Scott bagging it for the visitors after he received the ball on the left side of the area before cutting inside and firing low beyond David Odumosu with around 20 minutes remaining.

Fourth placed Dungannon Swifts continued their impressive campaign with a two-goal defeat of Glenavon at Stangmore Park.

Rodney McAree’s side lead at the break after Barney McKeown turned a Gael Bigirimana cross into his own net with around a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock.

That was how it stayed until just after the hour when Kealan Dillon doubled the Swifts’ advantage after running onto Thomas Maguire’s pass to round Gareth Deane and slot home.

Coleraine hit four goals without reply past bottom of the table Loughgall at Lakeview Park.

Matthew Shevlin started the ball rolling on five minutes with a header from six yards after Rhyss Campbell had crossed from the right.

Jamie McGonigle doubled the Bannsiders’ lead after 39 minutes when he slipped the ball past Nathan Gartside after the visitors had broken the counter attack.

Campbell added number three not long after that with the final touch to McGonigle’s low cross from the left.

Shevlin then completed the scoring on the hour after bundling the ball home at the back post from a Glackin corner.

Two late goals helped Portadown get the better of Glentoran at the BetMcLean Oval.

Scoreless for most of the game, the Ports found a way through eight minutes from time when Shay McCartan converted from the spot after he had been clipped from behind by Fuad Sule.

Then, deep into added time, Ryan Mayse made sure for Niall Currie’s side after Ben Wylie had rolled the ball into his path.

Meanwhile, at Taylors Avenue, recently appointed Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter guided his new charges to a three-goal defeat of former club Crusaders.

Rangers raced into a strong early advantage when Emmett McGuckin nudged them in front on 11 minutes with a close range header before, just minutes after that, Paul Heatley doubled up after going one-on-one with Jonny Tuffey.

Heatley then made sure on the hour with a volley from the edge of the box.