Glens win to stay top as Blues and Coleraine unbeaten

Jordan Jenkins scored Glentoran's second goal against Ballymena

Glentoran beat Ballymena United 2-0 at the Showgrounds on Saturday to stay three points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table and remain unbeaten after six league outings.

Pat Hoban scored his first top flight goal for the club since his move from Derry City and Jordan Jenkins added the second to secure the three points before half-time.

Coleraine have also yet to taste defeat this term as a Joel Cooper double helped his side consolidate their third position in the standings with a comprehensive 4-0 win at struggling Crusaders.

Linfield made it three wins from three by defeating Portadown 3-0 at Windsor Park, Matthew Fitzpatrick netting twice.

Larne sit third after their 2-0 victory away to Bangor, while Cliftonville made it back-to-back Premiership wins by seeing off Carrick Rangers 2-1 at Taylors Avenue.

Dungannon Swifts got the better of nine-man Glenavon on a 2-0 scoreline in the basement battle at Mourneview Park to clinch their first points of the campaign.

Glens secure fifth win from six

At the Showgrounds, the visitors almost went ahead inside the opening five minutes when Hoban's through ball released strike partner Jenkins but his low angled drive came back off the base of the post.

But the league leaders did go in front on 11 minutes when Hoban rose unchallenged to head home Danny Amos' corner.

Worse was to follow for Ballymena four minutes later as Matthew Clarke gave away possession deep inside his own half and Hoban slipped a pass into the path of Jenkins, who beat O'Neill with a low finish.

Ballymena's first real chance fell to Joel Thompson after he was played in by Jack O'Reilly but his fierce shot was beaten out by Andrew Mills.

In a mundane second half, Glentoran were able to keep Ballymena at bay with skipper Marcus Kane producing a timely intervention when it looked as though Jack O'Reilly would convert Clarke's low cross.

Bannsiders impress against Crues

Cooper's two goals, plus strikes from the front pair of Matthew Shevlin and Declan McManus earned Coleraine that commanding 4-0 win over Crusaders at Seaview.

The visitors opened the scoring midway through the first half through the lively Cooper.

Dean Jarvis delivered a low ball in from the left, Jamie Glackin dummied and the former Linfield man did the rest, curling a powerful left foot shot high into the net off the underside of the crossbar from 15 yards.

Coleraine doubled their lead a minute before the break, again through Cooper, this time the forward getting on the end of a clever free-kick routine to guide his volley past Jonny Tuffey.

And it was 3-0 in added time when a defensive error from Evan Easton allowed Shevlin to stride forward before burying a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Crusaders improved after the interval but conceded a fourth 11 minutes from full-time when second half sub McManus showed the Crusaders defence a clean pair of heels before rifling a right foot shot high into the roof of the net.

Blues too strong for Ports

Chances were few and far between in the opening period at Windsor Park but the game came to life after the break as the hosts eased to victory.

Fitzpatrick forced Aaron McCarey into an early save while Sean Brown failed to hit the target from range. And after an uninspiring first half, the sides went in at the break scoreless.

Eventually there was something to shout about after 53 minutes when Samuel Taylor met Sean Brown's cross to give Linfield the lead.

It got better for David Healy's men soon after when Fitzpatrick got on the end of Kyle McClean's ball to double Linfield's lead. Aaron McCarey did get his hands on the ball but the linesman was quick to raise his flag to signal a goal.

The decision was met with strong Portadown protests and yellows cards were issued to Steven McCullough, McCarey and manger Niall Currie as frustrations threatened to boil over.

Fitzpatrick then made sure of the points and keep Linfield's 100% league start to the season intact when he added his second and Linfield's third in the 77th minute, finishing from Kyle McClean's pass.

Larne see off Bangor

Larne marked their first top-flight visit to Bangor in 30 years with a ruthless second-half showing, substitute Conor McKendry breaking the deadlock before Benji Magee struck late to kill the contest.

On 71 minutes, Mark Randall robbed Tiarnan Mulvenna on the edge of the penalty area and slipped the ball to McKendry, who was given time to size up his effort. The former Coleraine winger duly obliged, his effort kissing the far post before rolling over the line.

Magee, wasteful for much of the afternoon, made amends five minutes from time. Collecting possession outside the box, he arrowed a finish into the far corner, leaving Gareth Deane with no chance.

The opening half was tight and forgettable, the Inver Reds dictating possession without carving clear chances, while the Seasiders grew into the game. Their best moment came when Ben Arthurs almost picked out Ben Cushnie, but the through ball skidded just beyond the former Glentoran man's reach.

After the break, Gary Haveron's men created the better opportunities. Tomas Cosgrove's low cross was met by Tiarnan O'Connor but blocked at point-blank range, before Magee lashed over.

Magee then squandered the game's clearest chance, latching onto Randall's lofted ball only to blaze over with just Deane to beat. Dan Bent also saw a finish ruled out for offside.

Lee Feeney's side rallied, Reece Neale's ball finding Harry Lynch, who volleyed over, before Matty Lusty burst clear on 88 minutes but dragged wide when a third looked certain.

Reds get better of Carrick

The away side took the lead after just 15 minutes at Taylors Avenue when Shea Gordon's through ball was diverted away from Joe Gormley by Luke McCullough, but into the path of Rory Hale with the Cliftonville captain staying composed and slotting home..

After the restart, Joe Crowe had a huge chance to level the game, but Morrison deflected his strike from close range away, with the effort appearing to strike the crossbar on its route out of play.

Cliftonville then extended their advantage in the 65th minute after Gartside had tipped a low shot from Hale out of play but the away side were able to take advantage of the resulting corner with Jack Keaney nodding home Hale's delivery.

In the final few minutes of the game, Crowe was brought down in the box, but Morrison guessed the right way and denied Jack Scott's spot kick.

The home side would find a goal in the 91st minute when Danny Gibson's cross was nodded home by Paul Heatley, but they couldn't find another which means their unbeaten start to the season comes to an end.

Swifts win basement battle

After an even start to the game, it was the Swifts who made the breakthrough after 13 minutes.

After David McDaid shot just wide at the other end, Dungannon broke. Tiernan Kelly crossed to the back post after Junior kept the ball alive, and there was Thomas Maguire to stretch out and finish into the far side of the net.

Things went from bad to worse 11 minutes later for Glenavon, when Harry Murphy was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It was all Dungannon after this as Adam Glenny went close after the midfielder drove forward with intent before fizzing an effort from 35 yards, but it whistled just wide of Jacob Carney's left upright.

A minute later Dungannon hit the post with a header after a cross from Maguire from the left, and soon the pressure would tell.

Three minutes before the break Dillon stepped up from 30 yards and swung a superb free-kick tight into the left-hand side of the goal, giving Carney absolutely no chance in goal as the Swifts doubled their advantage.

The second period was a slower affair with few goalscoring chances but will be remembered for Barney McKeown's red card after 62 minutes. The Glenavon captain received two yellow cards in quick succession as the hosts dropped nine.

McKeown got booked for dissent, then he proceeded to applaud referee Jamie Robinson on that decision, which led to Robinson to producing a second yellow and a red.

There was no way back for Glenavon after that as the Swifts bagged their first points of the season and the Lurgan Blues rooted to the foot of the table without a point.