Irish Premiership: Coleraine stay top as Linfield beat Glentoran

Coleraine are top of the Irish Premiership having finished third last season

Darren McCauley scored twice after Josh Carson's opener as Premiership leaders Coleraine beat to Ards 3-0 to make it six wins from six.

Oran Kearney's men are three points ahead of Linfield whose 1-0 win over Glentoran maintains their 100% record.

An early goal by Aaron Burns was enough to give David Healy's side victory.

Paul Heatley scored three as Crusaders beat Ballinamallard 5-1, Cliftonville won at home to Dungannon and Ballymena were 3-1 victors away to Warrenpoint.

Coleraine were held to 0-0 by Ards at half-time but two goals in two minutes - a Carson close-range strike and McCauley's volley - put the buoyant Bannsiders on the victory path.

McCauley scored again from the penalty spot after he had been brought down inside the area.

Aaron Burns headed in the only goal as Linfield beat Glentoran

At Windsor Park, a fifth-minute header by Aaron Burns proved enough to give champions Linfield a narrow victory over cross-city rivals Glentoran.

That made it five wins out of five for the Blues who are three points behind Coleraine, but with a match against Crusaders on Tuesday night in hand.

For the Glens, it was their first defeat of the season, while Linfield have yet to concede a league goal in their five outings.

Paul Heatley netted a hat-trick and Philip Lowry also scored as Crusaders won 5-1 at Ballinamallard

Linfield have won 13 of the last league encounters between the sides, with six drawn and only one victory for Glentoran.

Re-live all of Saturday's Irish Premiership action as it happened

Heatley grabbed a hat-trick for the Crues, with Philip Lowry and Jordan Owens also finding the net in a comfortable triumph at Ferney Park.

The victory keeps Stephen Baxter's men well in touch with the leaders as they boast four wins from their first five fixtures ahead of the midweek mouth-watering clash with the Blues.

Second-half goals from Garry Breen and Joe Gormley helped Cliftonville secure a first Premiership success since the opening day of the season, Chris Hegarty replying for the Swifts.

Ballymena appear to have put their disappointing start to the season behind them as they recorded a second successive league win by coming from behind to see off Warrenpoint.

Martin Murray opened the scoring after just 25 seconds but Cathair Friel replied before the break and then Emmet Friars made it two goals in two games, before Friel added his second.