Irish Premiership: Glentoran, Cliftonville and Dungannon win

Mid-table trio Glentoran, Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts were the victors in Saturday's curtailed Irish Premiership programme.

Curtis Allen's early goal was enough to give Glentoran a 1-0 win against Ards with both teams having a man sent off.

First-half goals by Jude Winchester and Chris Curran earned Cliftonville a 2-0 win over Warrenpoint Town.

Ryan Mayse scored the winner as Dungannon came from behind to beat Ballymena 2-1.

The top four of Coleraine, Linfield, Crusaders and Glenavon did not have league fixtures because of international call-ups and Scottish Challenge Cup involvement.

Glentoran's win over Ards was just the response boss Gary Haveron wanted after the 3-0 home defeat by Crusaders five days earlier.

The goal came inthe first minute with top striker Allen running on to Robbie McDaid's flick-on to lob keeper Sam Johnston.

Both teams had chances before the two red cards late in the game.

Glentoran striker McDaid got a second yellow card in the 88th minute for standing over the ball to stop Ards taking a free-kick quickly.

Then Jonny Frazer of Ards was shown a straight red for a tackle on Conall Delaney.

Red card controversy at Stangmore

There was also a dismissal at Dungannon where Ballymena's Willie Faulkner was sent off for handling on the line in the 66th minute. United protested it had been accidental but referee Keith Kennedy produced the red card and awarded a penalty.

Paul McElroy converted the spot-kick for the equaliser after Ballymena had led through a free-kick by Leroy Millar which beat Swifts keeper Stuart Addis at the near post.

Soon afterwards Mayse drilled in the winner from six yards to take Dungannon's unbeaten league run to four.

Cliftonville's recent resurgence continued as boss Barry Gray celebrated victory over his former side Warrenpoint.

Winchester snapped up a 13th-minute opener after a header by Leroy Ives had come off the crossbar.

Then Curran forced in number two for the Reds three minutes before half-time.