Larne defeat Linfield for first win of campaign

Larne players celebrate with goalscorer Conor McKendry

A second-half Conor McKendry goal gave back-to-back Irish Premiership champions Larne their first league win of the season as they defeated leaders Linfield 1-0 at Windsor Park.

McKendry struck against the run of play after the Blues had enjoyed the majority of the possession and chances to reduce his team's deficit to the pacesetters to nine points with three games in hand.

Cliftonville drew level on points at the top of the table with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Loughgall, who were reduced to 10 men late on.

Crusaders' unbeaten start to the campaign ended as they went down 1-0 to Glenavon at Seaview thanks to a Michael O'Connor strike while the in-form Ben Kennedy continued his hot scoring streak by netting a last-gasp goal to give Ballymena United a 1-0 win over 10-man Glentoran, who had skipper Marcus Kane dismissed.

Coleraine ran out convincing 3-1 winners against Carrick Rangers, who have now lost five straight top flight matches.

McKendry nets Larne winner

After a nervy largely uneventful first half at Windsor Park, the second was a much more high-tempo affair, with Linfield having success down the flanks.

First, Charlie Allen centred a superb left-footed delivery from the right that had Rohan Ferguson at full stretch to palm away to safety, before Matthew Fitzpatrick backheeled a low cross just behind the foot of Joel Cooper.

Just after the hour mark, Cooper had his strike on target. This time, he teased the Larne defence inside the area before unleashing a low right-footed drive which visiting stopper Ferguson did brilliantly to turn around the near post.

Euan East had a double header superbly saved by Ferguson before Larne struck on the counter-attack on 79 minutes

A long clearance down field was controlled by Matty Lusty, who darted inside, beating Chris Shields and twisting his way through on goal.

His left-footed shot was well saved by Chris Johns in the Linfield goal, but substitute McKendry was on hand to rifle home from eight yards.

Reds romp to win over Loughgall

Cliftonville's offensive juggernaut roared into life as Joe Gormley, the evergreen predator, ignited the onslaught in the 19th minute, clinically dispatching Michael Glynn's scalpel-like through ball beyond a despairing Nathan Gartside.

The floodgates burst open, and Cliftonville's relentless pressure bore fruit again moments later. Kris Lowe shrugged off Jamie Rea's challenge with disdain before coolly slotting home following Jonny Addis's searching long ball.

Addis then turned scorer in the 27th minute to all but end the contest when the former Ballymena United defender towered over the hosts' defence to thunder home Ronan Doherty's pinpoint corner, leaving Loughgall reeling.

The hosts showed a flicker of defiance after the interval, with Nathaniel Ferris conjuring a moment of sublime individual skill. His turn and thunderbolt finish briefly rekindled home hopes.

However, Taylor Stevens extinguished any notion of a comeback with a sublime finish, cutting inside to unleash an exquisite effort from range.

Stevens applied the coup de grâce in the dying minutes, turning in Ryan Corrigan's audacious chip to complete the rout as Loughgall's misery was compounded when Tiernan Kelly saw red for a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on Arran Pettifer.

Lurgan Blues defeat Crues

Glenavon scored the only goal of the game at Seaview on the 18th minute when Peter Campbell controlled a loose ball in midfield and played O’Connor through on goal, who travelled into the box and fired a strong strike into the top left-hand corner.

As the first half came to a close, Gareth Deane had to produce a diving save to deny Lewis Barr's goal-bound effort from range.

After the restart Jordan Stewart’s pass from the left flank was headed just wide by Philip Lowry before Len O’Sullivan and Campbell were forced to make crucial blocks to deny Crusaders’ attempts.

Glenavon stopper Deane then palmed Ross Clarke’s effort over the crossbar and also gathered Jordan Forsythe’s header from the resulting corner.

At the other end, substitute David McDaid nearly took advantage of a mistake by Robbie Weir, but Jonny Tuffey denied the his shot.

Kennedy nets late winner

At the Showgrounds, Ballymena almost went in front on 14 minutes when Aaron Jarvis fed the ball to Kennedy, whose angled drive was pushed away at full stretch by Daniel Gyollai with the rebound inches too high for Johnny McMurray to head home the rebound.

Glentoran came close just before the interval when Dylan Connolly’s corner was flicked on to the back post where Paddy McClean slid in to force the ball goalwards but United keeper Sean O’Neill was able to dive on the ball close to the goal-line.

The visitors came close again five minutes into the second period when Josh Carson lost possession in his own half and Dylan Connolly forced a low diving save from O’Neill with substitute Jay Donnelly was unable to keep his follow-up effort on target.

Ballymena responded as O’Neill’s long clearance flicked off the head of Kodi Lyons-Foster, leaving McMurray clear but the striker’s effort was too close to Daniel Gyollai and the Glentoran keeper was able to block the shot.

The game took another twist on 74 minutes as Glentoran were reduced to 10 men after Kane picked up a second booking for a foul on Kennedy.

But the real drama of the afternoon came as the game moved into the final minute of normal time as a long ball forward was flicked on by Ethan Devine and the in-form Kennedy raced clear to slot past Gyollai.

Coleraine heap more misery on Carrick

First goals for their new club from Scottish imports Connor Murray and Mackenzie Carse and a second of the season from Rhyss Campbell helped Coleraine to a comfortable 3-1 win over Carrick Rangers.

Coleraine broke the deadlock on the half hour and in spectacular style.

Midfielder Connor Murray, on loan from Scottish club Hamilton Academical, created space for himself after cutting in from the wing before curling a beautifully angled right foot shot high into the roof of the net.

The lead lasted barely three minutes, however, as Carrick came up with an almost immediate response.

A flighted ball caused confusion in the home defence and evergreen Paul Heatley pounced, his opportunistic strike taking a deflection on its way past a helpless Rory Brown in the home goal.

The Bannsiders came close to reclaiming the lead eight minutes before the break but Carse’s close range effort went just the wrong side of the crossbar after good work from the impressive Murray.

However, the midfielder wasn’t to be denied for long and he fired his side in front for a second time five minutes after the restart, following up to prod home from close range after Dean Jarvis’s 20 yard shot had been brilliantly saved by Ross Glendinning.

And the points were secured in the 73rd minute when substitute Campbell, only on the pitch a matter of minutes, rose highest at the back post to head home Jamie Glackin’s corner.

The hosts were denied a fourth by a smart save at his near post from Glendinning but they will be delighted to secure their second win of the campaign in impressive fashion.