Irish Premiership: Glentoran 1-2 Linfield

An Andy Waterworth goal and an Aaron Burns penalty gave Linfield victory over 10-man Glentoran in a pulsating Boxing Day derby at the Oval.

The win sees the Blues move six points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Waterworth scored from six yards after Elliott Morris had saved his initial effort on 49 minutes and Burns added the second from the spot on the hour.

David Scullion reacted quickly to poke home on 88 minutes but Mark Clarke was sent-off after a scuffle in added time.

Clarke was dismissed after clashing with Linfield midfielder Jamie Mulgrew off the ball.

The league leaders were without a win on their last four visits to the East Belfast venue and it was the hosts who began the game brighter.

Mulgrew flashed a 20-yard volley just over the bar but the Glens then passed up a number of chances.

Aaron Boyd fired a couple of yards wide, Jonny Tuffey made a fine save from Mark Miskimmin and Clarke went close with a 35-yard shot which Tuffey managed to push round for a corner.

Miskimmin was narrowly wide with another attempt and Stephen McAlorum saw his dipping long-range effort go just over the bar.

At the other end, Morris was at full stretch to save from Billy Joe Burns and collected another Mulgrew strike.

Marcus Kane had a volley charged down by Billy Joe Burns, while Mark McAllister missed a good chance at the back post as the game ebbed and flowed in front of the big holiday crowd before the interval.

The visitors were dominant in the second half and after Waterworth opened the scoring, the ex-Glens striker whizzed another effort across the face of goal.

Aaron Burns extended his side's lead after Jason Hill brought down McAllister inside the area.

Morris denied Waterworth, before Scullion gave Eddie Patterson's side some hope, firing in after Jordan Stewart's free-kick had cannoned off the post.

Clarke's late red card completed a disappointing day for the Glens.