Sky Blues extend winning run as Baxter's Carrick beat Coleraine

Ballymena United have now won 11 games in a row

Table topping Ballymena United continued their fine run of form with a 1-0 win against Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Ben Kennedy scored a penalty as the Sky Blues extended their winning run in all competitions to 11 games.

Stephen Baxter's reign as Carrick Rangers manager got off to a winning start as they beat Coleraine 2-1 at Taylors Avenue.

Kyle McClean netted twice as Linfield got back to winning ways with a 3-2 victory against Crusaders at Seaview.

Second half goals from David Fisher and Paddy McClean helped Glentoran overcome Dungannon Swifts at the Oval.

Portadown edged Loughgall 1-0 in Saturday's late kick-off.

Leaders Ballymena edge past Glenavon

Glenavon dominated the opening stages with a strong wind behind them and Jamie Doran sliced a rebound wide after David McDaid’s shot had been blocked.

Ballymena should have scored in the final minute of the half as Andy Scott burst through the Glenavon rearguard and laid the ball off for Aaron Jarvis. His shot beat keeper Gareth Deane, but defender Barney McKeown was alert to the danger to clear off the line.

In first half stoppage time, Niall Quinn tried his luck from distance, but his shot was pushed away by United keeper Sean O’Neill, diving to his left.

O’Neill excelled again nine minutes into the second period with a good stop to turn behind Len O’Sullivan’s fierce strike.

The decisive moment in the game came on 62 minutes when Kennedy threaded a pass through to Aaron Jarvis who collided with O’Sullivan.

Referee Jamie Robinson pointed to the spot and Kennedy sent Deane the wrong way from 12 yards for what proved the only goal.

Baxter picks up first win as Carrick boss

The hosts drew first blood in the 10th minute when Paul Heatley's predatory instincts bore fruit.

The former Crusaders man pounced on Graham Kelly's unfortunate slip to convert Nedas Maciulaitis' teasing low cross with aplomb.

Maciulaitis was the provider again eight minutes before the interval. The Lithuanian winger bewildered Jack Scott with a mesmerizing double stepover before laying the ball on a plate for Danny Gibson to tap home at the far post.

Stephen Baxter's side could have extended their lead further when Kyle Cherry connected with Heatley's inviting cross just before the break, but his diving header narrowly evaded the target.

Dean Shiels' charges rallied after the restart, reducing the deficit in the 59th minute.

Jamie Glackin ghosted behind Carrick's defence, latching onto Dylan Boyle's precise through ball before slotting past the helpless Ross Glendinning.

The second half was a much more even affair, but Baxter's men nearly put the result beyond doubt two minutes after the break when Heatley's low drive forced Max Little into a smart save at his near post.

Despite a late surge from the Bannsiders, the home side held firm to secure a valuable three points, kickstarting their new manager's tenure in style.

Blues hold on to beat Crues

Linfield had a great chance to open the scoring on 12 minutes with McClean denied by Jonny Tuffey before Jacob Blaney cleared Kirk Millar's rebound off the line.

Blaney again denied Linfield on 25 minutes as he turned away a Joel Cooper effort but there was nothing anyone could do to stop McClean five minutes before the break as he nipped in behind and buried a low, hard shot to give his side the lead.

The hosts were fairly blunt in the first half but came out of the blocks quickly in the second and equalised seven minutes after the break.

It was ex-Linfield man Jordan Stewart who smashed home following a bit of pinball in the box, but parity would not last long as David Healy's men struck back within five minutes.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, who had already received a knock to the head, took another as he bravely threw himself at a loose ball six yards out to restore his side's lead.

The Blues dominated from there but wasted a few chances before McClean struck again five minutes from time with a neat finish from the edge of the box.

Crusaders got one back in stoppage time through another former Linfield man in Jimmy Callacher.

The hosts then piled on the pressure and only a stunning save with the last play from Chris Johns denied them an equaliser.

David Healy was also given a red card as he encroached on to the pitch at the very end but his side clung on for a much-needed three points.

Second half showing from Glens sees off Swifts

It was a first half of few chances with the home side having the best opportunity in the 31st minute when they were awarded a penalty after Danny Wallace brought down Fisher in the box.

Fisher took the resulting spot-kick, but his tame effort was thwarted by Dungannon stopper Patrick Solis Grogan.

After the restart, the Glens started to dominate and opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after Rodney McAree’s side failed to clear their lines following Cahal McGinty deflecting Cameron Palmer’s pass.

Fisher robbed Gael Bigirimana of the ball and found the bottom left-hand corner.

Dungannon stopper Solis Grogan was called into action shortly after to deny Jay Donnelly’s header from close range.

However, the home side did double their lead just three minutes after the opening goal when the away side couldn’t clear a Daniel Amos’ corner with McClean controlling the ball and firing past Solis Grogan.

The east Belfast side dominated the remainder of the match with James Singleton being denied by the crossbar and Solis Grogan making multiple impressive saves to deny Declan Devine’s side a more comfortable lead.

McCullough scores stunner in Ports win

The best of the action came in the first half at Shamrock Park, with Steven McCullough giving Portadown the lead within three minutes with a sweetly struck free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Caolan McAleer should have levelled later in the first half when he latched onto a poor back pass by Aaron Traynor to his goalkeeper, but he steered his effort wide of the target with the goal gaping.

Shay McCartan meanwhile almost doubled the Ports’ lead in the dying moments of the first half when he got on the end of a play he started, but he was denied by a strong hand from Loughgall goalkeeper Nathan Gartside.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the second half, though McCullough and McCartan both forced Gartside into good saves.

Very close to the end of the 90 minutes, Shamrock Park was stunned by a Loughgall goal against the run of play, but the linesman came to the rescue with his raised flag for offside.

A good win for the Ports, one that took them from 10th place to sixth in the table.