An afternoon of fine margins in the Sports Direct Premiership produced victories for Coleraine and Dungannon Swifts while it ended honours even across all the other grounds.

Much attention was focused on the big derby at The Showgrounds as Ballymena United welcomed Coleraine to Warden Street, with the Sky Blues defending a long unbeaten run against the Bannsiders who had lost their last three league outings on the bounce.

However, as is often the case, the form book went out the window as Coleraine looked the better proposition throughout and duly returned back up the A26 with the three points thanks to Rhyss Campbell’s 64th minute close range header.

Dungannon Swifts are just behind United in third spot following a two-goal defeat of Portadown at Stangmore Park.

Scoreless at the break, the Swifts moved in front on 53 minutes after Andy Mitchell ran onto John McGovern’s low cross into the box to tap the ball home at the far post.

Leo Alves then made sure for Rodney McAree’s side with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with a sublime, curling finish despite Aaron McCarey’s best efforts at reaching the ball as it headed towards the top right corner.

Glentoran, in fourth, just missed out on collecting the win from Carrick Rangers’ visit to the BetMcLean Oval.

David Fisher edged the Glens in front on 12 minutes with a terrific strike into the top corner, a lead they held for over an hour before Danny Gibson levelled for the visitors with a back post header.

But the Glens could have won in stoppage time when presented with a spot-kick following a handball but Jay Donnelly was denied by a superb stop by keeper Ross Glendinning.

Defending champions Larne came from behind to share the spoils with Crusaders at Inver Park.

Kieran Offord broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half with a curling 30-yard finish past Rohan Ferguson, but Benji Magee hit back nine minutes from the end after a free-kick fell for him.

Meanwhile, in the early kick-off, ten-man Glenavon held on to carve out a scoreless draw with Cliftonville at Solitude.

The visitors suffered the loss of Rhys Marshall for two bookable offences, with the Reds coming closest to make their extra man count late in the game when Ryan Markey headed against the woodwork.