Larne close gap at top as Blues also secure win

Matt Lusty was on target for Larne and Kyle McClean netted a double for Linfield

Larne made it six consecutive Irish Premiership wins without conceding a goal as they beat Carrick Rangers 2-0 at Inver Park to move to within one point of leaders Glentoran at the top of the table.

Goals from Matt Lusty and Dan Bent in either half secured all three points for the in-form east Antrim side.

Linfield returned to winning ways after their midweek defeat by Ballymena by seeing off Glenavon 2-0 at Windsor Park.

Kyle McClean scored both for the Blues as they condemned their visitors to an eighth loss from eight league outings.

Dungannon Swifts ran out 2-1 winners over nine-man Cliftonville at Stangmore Park while Crusaders grabbed a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Ballymena United.

Larne win with another clean sheet

Larne broke the deadlock in the east Antrim derby in the 23rd minute when Conor McKendry's cross into the box caught the Carrick defence sleeping with James Simpson controlling the delivery and passing across to Lusty, who found the back of the net.

Carrick pushed for a quick leveller with Rohan Ferguson forced to make a great save to deny Billy Joe Burns' header with Luke McCullough unable to convert the rebound.

At the other end, a shot from McKendry curled just over the crossbar as the Inver Reds pushed for a late first half goal.

After the restart, Carrick dominated possession and created plenty of half chances but struggled to test stopper Ferguson.

Interim manager Gary Haveron's side extended their lead with just six minutes to go after Nathan Gartside palmed Sean Graham's corner onto the crossbar with Bent on hand to fire home the rebound from point-blank-range.

Blues heap more misery on Glenavon

McClean's double earned Linfield all three points at Windsor Park as Glenavon's woes continue.

The Blues broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, with midfielder McClean finding the top corner with a thunderous strike after Matthew Fitzpatrick dispossessed the Glenavon defence who failed to clear their lines.

David Healy's side continued to dominate the first half with Fitzpatrick going close with a header and Sam Taylor forcing Jacob Carney into a save just before the break.

Linfield continued to huff and puff in search of a second goal, which finally came on 65 minutes. McClean struck for his second of the afternoon, firing low and hard beyond the helpless Lurgan Blues stopper.

Paddy McLaughlin's array of attacking changes in the second half saw the Lurgan Blues have a few half chances without troubling Chris Johns in goal.

Second half substitute Kieran Offord came close to adding a third for the Blues three minutes from time, but saw his effort slide just wide of the post.

Swifts see off nine-man Reds

Dungannon seized a vital early advantage through Junior Uzokwe's 19th-minute penalty at Stangmore Park.

Rory Hale handled Tomas Galvin's goal-bound strike on the line and the midfielder was dismissed for his intervention, with former Derry City and Glentoran frontman Uzokwe making no mistake from the resulting spot-kick, drilling low to PJ Morrison's right.

That breakthrough lifted the Swifts, and they doubled their lead just after the half-hour. Kealan Dillon's inviting free-kick was met by Caolan Marron, who rose highest to glance a superb header into the top corner.

Cliftonville needed a response and found one early in the second half. Callum McCay threaded a perfectly weighted ball into Joe Gormley's path, and the veteran striker cut inside before steering a clinical finish into the far corner, sparking hopes of a comeback that ultimately fell short.

The visitors had been warned of Uzokwe's danger earlier in the contest. In the eighth minute, the attacker spun his marker brilliantly inside the six-yard box, only to drag his shot wide with the goal gaping.

Late on, Jonny Addis looked to have hauled the north Belfast outfit level, but his powerful header was volleyed clear off the line by a well-placed Danny Wallace.

Moments later, Addis' involvement ended in frustration as he was sent off for a foul on Mal Smith on 88 minutes, leaving the Reds to finish with nine men.

Honours even in entertaining Seaview contest

A last-minute penalty from top scorer Fraser Bryden earned Crusaders a deserved share of the points in a 1-1 draw at home to Ballymena, the first time both sides have taken a solitary point from a league game this season.

The visitors went in front early in the second half through a clever finish from Calvin McCurry from a quickly taken Ben Kennedy free kick.

The home side dominated exchanges in the opening period, forcing Ballymena United goalkeeper Sean O'Neill into a number of fine saves.

At the other end, Success Edogun was denied by a timely block from Crues' skipper Jarlath O'Rourke with James Hood shooting straight at Johnny Tuffey in the final moments.

The Braidmen were much improved after half-time and broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart.

Kennedy took that quick free-kick, slipped the ball into McCurry as the Crusaders defenders stood watching and the forward did the rest, directing the ball low past Johnny Tuffey into the far corner of the goal.

The home side responded well to the setback and Bryden forced a smart stop from O'Neill before blazing wildly over the crossbar after the ball had fallen to him six yards from goal.

Then, just as it looked it wasn't to be Crusaders' day, they were awarded a penalty in the final minute following a handball in the penalty area and Bryden stepped up to send O'Neill the wrong way and the home supporters into raptures.