Coleraine, Glens and Blues all win but Larne held

Euan East is congratulated by Sam Taylor after scoring Linfield's opener

Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine beat 10-man Portadown 2-0 at Shamrock Park on Saturday to maintain their two-point advantage over Glentoran at the top of the table.

Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper were on target in the second half, after the hosts had Aaron McCarey sent-off before half-time, to make it three wins in a row.

Two late goals from Ryan Cooney and David Fisher saw the Glens recover from 2-1 down to secure a 3-2 victory over Crusaders at Seaview.

Linfield bounced back from their league loss to Portadown and a County Antrim Shield reverse at the hands of Cliftonville by defeating Ballymena United 2-1 at Windsor Park to maintain their 100% home record this season.

Cliftonville were 1-0 winners at Carrick Rangers to halt a run of three straight top flight defeats, while Dungannon Swifts saw off Glenavon 1-0 in the day's other afternoon kick-offs.

In the day's later kick-off, third-placed Larne were held to a 1-1 draw by Bangor.

Bannsiders battle to win

Portadown had McCarey shown a straight red in added time at the end of the first half after retaliating to a challenge inside the penalty area from Shevlin.

And the Bannsiders made the most of their advantage after the break, scoring twice in 12 minutes past stand-in keeper Eamon Fyfe.

First, Shevlin found himself unmarked inside the six yard area to head home a Levi Ives corner in the 62nd minute for his sixth of the season and 99th for the club.

Twelve minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to Cooper's seventh goal of the campaign.

Again, it came from an Ives corner, Fyfe fumbling the ball at the feet of the forward who prodded the ball home from close range.

Glens claim last-gasp comeback victory

Glentoran dominated the opening exchanges at Seaview and deservedly took the lead on 24 minutes when Ciaran Coll's inswinging corner was touched home from close range by Jordan Jenkins.

The visitors continued to dominate with Jenkins heading over from a Cammy Palmer cross, before Palmer himself dragged a left-footed shot wide of the far post.

Crusaders made a brighter start to the second period and levelled on 57 minutes when Kurtis Forsythe's cross from the right was nodded down to Fraser Bryden who, with his back to goal, swivelled and fired a shot into the net via the inside of the post.

And the home side went ahead on 72 minutes when Elliot Dunlop crossed to the back post where Bryden, the league's leading goalscorer, headed home.

But the Glens levelled with two minutes left when Jonny Russell's cross from the left was nodded down by Pat Hoban and Cooney was on hand to steer home a low shot past Tuffey.

The Glens went back in front in stoppage time when Liam Burt's low cross was diverted into the path of Fisher, who couldn't miss from six yards.

There was still time for more drama in injury time as Bryden came within a whisker of completing a hat-trick when his header from an Evan Easton cross crashed off the top of the crossbar on its way over.

Blues edge past Ballymena

Goals from defenders Euan East and Ben Hall in each half secured all three points for Linfield despite Matthew Clarke's equaliser for Ballymena after the break.

After a fairly even first 25 minutes, it was Linfield who broke the deadlock from a routine set piece. Kirk Millar's corner was met on the head by East who powered past Sean O'Neill at the near post.

Kieran Offord came closest to adding a second for the Blues before the break as his volley struck the crossbar following Millar's free-kick to the back post.

The visitors enjoyed more success in the opening stages of the second half and were rewarded on 62 minutes with an equaliser.

Patrick McEleney's floated cross from the right was met superbly on the head by Clarke, who found the top corner to score his second goal in two meetings this season against his former employers.

Linfield's lead was restored just seven minutes later as Hall reacted fastest to fire home from close range following Sam Roscoe's header at the back post following Millar's free-kick.

That was enough to secure all three points for David Healy's side.

Larne and Bangor take point apiece

Ben Arthurs gave Bangor an early lead in the ninth minute after a slick attacking move down the right. Tiarnan Mulvenna's cross caused confusion in the Larne defence, with Rohan Ferguson initially denying Michael Morgan before Arthurs reacted quickest to poke home his fourth league goal of the season.

The Inver Reds responded with relentless pressure throughout the first half, carving out a series of chances. Tiarnan O'Connor should have levelled midway through the opening period when Mark Randall's inviting cross found him unmarked, but the forward miscued from close range.

Matty Lusty then spun sharply inside the box after Tomas Cosgrove's clever ball over the top, only to drag his shot inches past the far post.

The home side's frustration deepened when Sean Graham's clipped delivery found O'Connor free at the back post, yet again the finish went wide with the goal gaping. Moments before half-time, Aaron Donnelly looked to have pulled one back, but his thunderous strike flashed narrowly over.

Larne's persistence was finally rewarded just after the hour mark when Conor McKendry produced a moment of quality. Leroy Millar's cushioned header dropped kindly, and McKendry's half-volley from the edge of the box arrowed into the far corner to bring the Inver Reds level.

Gary Haveron's men continued to dominate late on, with Paul O'Neill and Chris Gallagher both threatening a winner, but Lee Feeney's charges held firm under intense pressure to leave Inver Park with a hard-earned point.

Reds back to winning ways

Cliftonville broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Shaun Leppard rose highest to nod Keevan Hawthorne's free-kick past Nathan Gartside from close range.

After the breakthrough, Jim Magilton's side dominated the first half with Gartside called into action to deny shots from Thomas Lavery and Ryan Curran.

Just before the break, both sides had good chances with Curran being denied by stopper Gartside once again and Paul Heatley unable to convert Danny Gibson's cross at the other end.

Carrick Rangers upped the tempo as the game progressed and should have levelled the game after Ryan McKay squared the ball across to Gibson but, despite having space in the box, he couldn't keep his shot on target.

In the final few minutes, Aidan Steele came within inches of levelling the game. However, his low shot curled inches wide of the left-hand post.

Swifts see off Glenavon

The game at Stangmore Park opened with Jack Malone attempting to replicate his spectacular goal against Carrick Rangers last week when his long-range free-kick rattled off the bar.

Dungannon Swifts reacted to that early scare positively, and began working the ball around Glenavon with quick passing.

Steven Scott had Swifts' first threatening attempt of the afternoon when his shot was spilled by Mark Byrne, however, the keeper was able to collect before an on-rushing Junior could get a shot away.

On 12 minutes the home side opened the scoring, a long diagonal pass from Caolan Marron sent Scott flying down the right-wing and the right-back was able to hit a low-cross for Junior to hit home.

Glenavon were able to respond well in the latter half of the first period. Corey Smith went close but he was unable to equalise.

The visitors began the second half strongly, putting Dungannon Swifts under lots of pressure early on, but were unable to test Declan Dunne.

Their only real chance came via Jack Malone but his shot was impressively blocked by Danny Wallace.

As the half went on Glenavon began to tire following their strong start, allowing the hosts to take control of the game.

The Lurgan Blues went on the attack late on and Oran O'Kane made a late challenge to try to recover possession and was shown a second yellow card, receiving his marching orders, as the game finished 1-0.