Crues beat Glenavon as Ports and Bangor draw

Bryden's four goals today mean he is now top goalscorer in the Irish Premiership

Fraser Bryden netted four times as Crusaders beat Glenavon 4-1 at Seaview to move out of the bottom two in the Irish Premiership and put 10 points between themselves and the bottom-of-the-table Lurgan Blues.

Bryden broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when the Scottish striker fired home Elliot Dunlop's cross before netting his second just one minute later.

The league's top goalscorer completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute for his 12th of the campaign.

Kyle McClelland did pull one back for Michael O'Connor's side, but Bryden scored his fourth in the 82nd minute to secure Crusaders' first home victory of the season

In Saturday's other game, Portadown and Bangor drew 1-1 at Shamrock Park, with Ben Arthurs equalising after Eamon Fyfe had opened the scoring.

The Ports drop into the bottom two on goal difference while the Seasiders remain unbeaten on their travels since August.

Bryden stars as Crues overcome Glenavon

The game opened brightly with both teams moving the ball well. However, chances were few and far between with Bridel Bosakani's effort going high and wide while Ross Clarke's curling effort was too easy for Mark Byrne.

Clarke then made a critical intervention at the other end as he cleared Kyle McClelland's goal-bound header off the line.

This was crucial as the hosts struck twice in quick succession to open up a lead. It was Bryden who continued his hot scoring streak as he first finished Dunlop's ball from the left.

The dust hadn't even settled on that when the former Ayr United striker netted his 12th goal of the season after being given too much space in the box to finish Adam Brooks' incisive pass.

After the break, Glenavon had the better of possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Corey Smith curled one straight at Jonny Tuffey while Jack Malone couldn't keep his effort down.

The Lurgan Blues were made to pay for that as their defence was split by a beautiful pass from substitute Finley Thorndike and Brooks was unselfish enough to square for Bryden to tap home for his hat-trick.

The away side did pull one back to give their travelling support a glimmer of hope through a Kyle McClelland header, but that was crushed as Bryden rounded off a stunning afternoon with his and his team's fourth goal when he split the home defence and finished Kurtis Forsythe's through ball superbly.

Point apiece for Ports and Bangor

At Shamrock Park, the visitors created the first clear opening on 18 minutes when Tiarnan Mulvenna's free-kick caused real confusion and Ben Cushnie met the set- piece, but Aaron McCarey stood firm to deny his former Glentoran teammate.

Bangor thought they had found the opener soon after when Arthurs latched onto Cushnie's through ball and finished calmly, but the assistant's flag cut short the celebrations.

That warning stirred the hosts into life with Fyfe's dipping free-kick catching Gareth Deane off guard, and Lewis MacKinnon hurling himself at the loose ball, rattling the rebound against the bar from close range.

Moments later, the Mid-Ulster outfit were stretched again as Reece Neale's corner swung dangerously towards goal, but McCarey reacted sharply to tip the strike onto the post.

The Ports' frustration deepened on 35 minutes when Lee Chapman followed up Fyfe's effort and found the net, only for another offside call to deny Niall Currie's side.

The breakthrough finally arrived a minute later. Ben Wylie clipped a neat pass into the area, the Bangor defence hesitated, and Fyfe darted through to guide a crisp finish into the far corner for his second of the season against Lee Feeney's men.

Bangor hit back within minutes of the restart, Arthurs muscling his way into the box after outpacing Steven McCullough and poking home at the second attempt for his sixth league goal of the campaign.

The result means the home side slip to 11th while Bangor remain in the top half.