Top three Coleraine, Glentoran and Larne all win

Coleraine's Zane Okoro and Jordan Jenkins of Glentoran were on target for their teams

Irish Premiership leaders Coleraine trounced Dungannon Swifts 4-0 at Ballycastle Road on Saturday to maintain their two-point advantage at the top.

Nearest challengers Glentoran saw off Ballymena United 2-0 at the Oval while third-placed Larne defeated Cliftonville 2-0 at Solitude.

Bangor moved up to fourth in the standings by beating Crusaders 2-1 at Clandeboye, their third consecutive league win.

Glenavon finally secured their first win and first points of the season by getting the better of Carrick Rangers on a 1-0 scoreline in new manager Michael O'Connor's first top flight game in charge.

Bannsiders banish Swifts

Coleraine underlined their title credentials with a crushing defeat of in-form Dungannon Swifts thanks to goals from Zane Okoro, an own goal from Caolan Marron, Joel Cooper and a Will Patching penalty.

The home side opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Okoro with his third goal of the season.

Dylan Boyle did well to break up a Dungannon Swifts attack before transferring the ball to Jamie Glackin.

The Coleraine playmaker raced forward before feeding the on-loan Lincoln City winger who held his nerve to bury a low right-foot shot through the legs of Declan Dunne.

Eight minutes later the home side doubled their lead thanks to an own goal from the unfortunate Marron.

Again, Glackin was involved, feeding Dean Jarvis on the left, the defender's low drilled cross slicing off the Dungannon defender's boot and high into the roof of his own net.

The Bannsiders made it 3-0 10 minutes after the restart through a fine individual effort from Joel Cooper who raced clear of the Dungannon defence to fire home his sixth goal of the season.

The scoring was complete moments later when Will Patching celebrated his 27th birthday in style by stroking home a penalty after Matthew Shevlin had been fouled inside the box.

Glens ease past Ballymena

Glentoran almost went in front inside the opening minute as Ryan Cooney's long ball forward set Jordan Jenkins clear. He took a heavy touch which forced him a fraction wide and his shot brushed the outside of the side netting on its way past.

The home side took the lead on 28 minutes when Joe Thomson's inswinging corner somehow eluded a posse of players in the six yard box, leaving Jenkins to tap home from virtually on the goal-line.

Glentoran should have doubled their advantage just before the interval when Cooney delivered a fantastic cross from the right which was met by the head of Pat Hoban but the experienced striker could only steer his effort wide of the post.

In a tepid second half, Ballymena's best chance of an equaliser came with 10 minutes left when Glentoran's Josh Kelly lost his footing, allowing Ryan McNickle a shot inside the penalty area but Glens keeper Andrew Mills showed good reflexes to turn the ball behind.

At the other end, a quick Glentoran counter-attack ended with Cammy Palmer rolling the ball inches wide of the far post.

But the home side wrapped up the points deep in stoppage time as substitute David Fisher rolled the ball across the face of goal for Pat Hoban to beat Sean O'Neill with a low shot.

Larne too strong for Reds

Larne got off to the perfect start after just three minutes when Mark Randall's in-swinging corner appeared to be glanced into his own net at the near post by Conor Barr, although Tomas Cosgrove was congratulated.

Cliftonville responded positively but couldn't test Rohan Ferguson and their vulnerability at the back was pounced on again just before the half-hour mark. Sean Graham's cross from the bye-line was nodded home at the back post by Tiarnan O'Connor.

Jim Magilton's men were looking rather predictable going forward and Larne were dealing with any threat fairly easily. PJ Morrison was forced into a good save at the other end as he had to tip away a Matty Lusty effort as the visitors went into the break two goals to the good.

Just before half-time, Cliftonville midfielder Adebayo Fapetu was stretchered off after a collision with Larne's Dan Bent.

The second half was a case of the hosts huffing and puffing but Larne again looking comfortable.

O'Connor was then gifted a chance by a loose Cliftonville pass but Morrison repelled him. Cliftonville had half-chances from Sean Robertson and Conor Falls that were easily stopped by Ferguson and their best chance in the second half with 10 minutes to go came from Eric McWoods but the American's free header was planted over the bar.

Bangor edge past Crues

At Clandeboye, former Crusaders man Jay Boyd won back possession for the hosts inside the visitors' box before the ball fell to Liam Hassin who bundled the ball over the line from close range via a heavy deflection off Evan Easton.

Five minutes later the Crues almost found a way back level when Adam Brooks unleashed a left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area but Gareth Deane pulled off a fine save.

Four minutes before the break Bangor threatened to double their advantage with a long throw from the left that was flicked on at the near post to find Lewis Harrison at the back post. The skipper threw a foot at the ball but failed to make contact as the ball rolled away to safety.

The second period got off to a lively start and on 54 minutes the visitors were back on level terms. An attack down the right led to a half-blocked cross that found Brooks and he poked home from 12 yards.

Twelve minutes before full-time Kurtis Forsythe fed the ball through to Fraser Bryden and the Scot fired in a shot from the edge of the area in an attempt to give the Crues the lead, but it whistled past the right-hand upright.

Then just two minutes later Bangor re-claimed the lead when super-sub Stephen McGuinness scored with his first touch of the game.

An attack down the right saw the ball played across the Crues' area allowing the in-rushing McGuinness to fire home at the back post for the greatest of impacts.

Glenavon finally get off the mark

Jack Malone ushered in the Michael O'Connor era in style, curling a sublime 25-yard free-kick into the top corner on 37 minutes to hand Glenavon the advantage.

The midfielder's strike, his first league goal of the season, left Carrick Rangers goalkeeper Nathan Gartside with no chance.

Before that, little had separated the sides, though the hosts showed greater intent. Malone's early free-kick in the 13th minute caused panic in the Carrick defence, with Corey Smith recycling possession to find O'Connor at the back post, only for the frontman to head narrowly over.

The visitors, chasing back-to-back league victories, struggled for fluency in a scrappy first half but grew more threatening after the restart.

Substitute Kyle Cherry's corner was punched clear by Mark Byrne, and Jimmy Callacher's inventive overhead attempt whistled past the upright.

Late on, Paul Heatley spun neatly on the edge of the area but was denied by Byrne, while Francely Lomboto had the chance to seal it deep into stoppage time, volleying Davy McDaid's lofted pass wide of the far post.

The Lurgan Blues held firm to claim their first league win of the season, extending their strong home record against Carrick to four victories from the last five meetings at Mourneview Park.