Leaders Linfield left it late to defeat Carrick Rangers at Windsor Park to remain top of the Sports Direct Premiership.

In what was a top v bottom battle, it took a Kirk Millar strike seven minutes into added time to break the deadlock.

Millar was presented with a free-kick from some 25 yards from goal, awarded after Steven Gordon had fouled Joel Cooper, which he duly blasted over the wall and past the despairing Ross Glendinning at the right post.

Ballymena United moved into second spot following victory over Cliftonville by the odd goal in five at the Showgrounds.

Leading scorer Ben Kennedy broke the deadlock on 14 minutes with a successfully converted penalty, but the Reds hit back just before the break through Jonny Addis.

Jim Ervin’s side regained the advantage with goals from Kym Nelson and Ethan Devine midway through the second half, but they were made sweat for the points when Joe Gormley despatched a spot-kick past Sean O’Neill with a couple of minutes remaining.

Dungannon Swifts were, on paper, top of the table for a large part of the day but in the end had to settle for a share of the spoils with Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Adam Glenny edged the visitors in front on 13 minutes with a header into the bottom corner, a lead they held until Barney McKeown levelled for the Lurgan Blues with around a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

A goal in stoppage time at the end of each half proved enough for Coleraine to get the better of Loughgall at the Showgrounds.

Jamie McGonigle blasted home from the spot moments from the break after Ciaron Harkin had been fouled, but Dean Shiels’ had to wait for almost the entirety of the second half to make sure of the points when Matthew Shevlin struck the Bannsiders second on 94 minutes!

And Portadown continued their rich vein of form with an impressive three-goal defeat of Crusaders at Seaview.

Ryan Mayse fired Niall Currie’s charges in front around the half-hour mark, Ahu Obhakhan doubled up midway through the second half with Lewis MacKinnon bagging the third not long after that with a low, hard finish past Jonny Tuffey.

Defending champions Larne had kicked the weekend off with a 2-0 victory over Glentoran at Inver Park on Friday night.

Andy Ryan broke the deadlock right at the end of the first half from the spot, with Matthew Lusty doubling the home advantage early in the second half.