Blues eight points clear as Ports beat nine-man Reds

Matthew Fitzpatrick (left) scored twice in Linfield's 3-0 win over Coleraine

Linfield moved eight points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership as they defeated Coleraine 3-0 at Windsor Park and nine-man Cliftonville lost 2-0 at Portadown.

Dungannon Swifts are now second in the table as Andrew Mitchell's 85th-minute penalty earned them a 1-0 win over struggling Ballymena United at the Showgrounds.

Matthew Fitzpatrick's 29th-minute strike put the Blues ahead and while they struggled for a time after half-time, Joel Cooper's delightful finish and another Fitzpatrick goal guaranteed David Healy's side the three points.

Jim Magilton's Reds, their closest challengers at the start of Saturday's action, had a dismal day as Conor Pepper and Jonny Addis were red carded before half-time after the superb Ryan Mayse had put Portadown ahead after four minutes.

Ahu Obhakhan doubled the Ports lead before the interval to complete a shocking first half for Cliftonville and there was no road back for the visitors in the second period.

Portadown's victory moves them into third place - 10 points behind the Blues - as they hold the edge on Cliftonville on their head-to-head results even though they share exactly the same goal difference.

Carrick Rangers' contest with Loughgall ended in a goalless draw with the home side having two penalties saved in the second half as Nathan Gartside stopped the spot-kicks from David Cushley and Danny Gibson.

Linfield dominated the opening 45 minutes against Coleraine but were forced to wait until just before the half hour to break the deadlock.

A long ball forward caused problems for the Bannsiders defence, seized on by Fitzpatrick who strode forward before blasting high into the roof of the net past a helpless Rory Brown at his near post.

Fitzpatrick came close to doubling his side's lead on the stroke of half-time but his powerful header from a Jamie Mulgrew cross was expertly tipped over the cross bar by Brown who repeated the trick moment later to deny Euan East.

The visitors were much the better side in the early stages of the second half, forcing a number of corners and free-kicks as they looked for an equaliser.

Defender Kyle McClelland will feel he should have done better when he failed to connect properly after a Senan Devine free had landed at his feet just yards in front of goal.

And they were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Cooper doubled the Blues' advantage with a fine individual goal as he simply waltzed through a static Coleraine defence before curling a low left foot shot past Brown.

There was still time for Fitzpatrick to score his second of the afternoon in the closing stages to complete a comfortable afternoon for the Blues.

Portadown ended an 11-year hoodoo against nine-man Cliftonville with a commanding 2-0 victory, leaving the title challengers shell-shocked at Shamrock Park.

The hosts, who had not won in their previous 24 contests against Cliftonville, capitalised on a numerical advantage after the Reds were reduced to nine men in a dramatic first half.

The Ports seized the initiative just four minutes after Mayse latched onto Josh Ukek's incisive throw through the ball and rounded David Odumosu to slot his eighth goal of the season.

Cliftonville's woes deepened as Pepper received his marching orders, accumulating two yellow cards in a four-minute spell for rash challenges on Lee Chapman and Ben Wylie.

The visitors' misery was compounded when Addis saw red on the stroke of half-time, cynically hauling down Eamon Fyfe, who was clear through on goal.

Niall Currie's men twisted the knife in first-half stoppage time as Chapman's precise low cross from the right flank found Obhakhan, who applied an exquisite flick to guide the ball beyond Odumosu's reach.

With a two-man superiority, the hosts controlled proceedings in the second half, stifling any attempts by the north Belfast side to mount a comeback.

After weathering an early spell of Ballymena pressure at the Showgrounds, Dungannon began to dominate with Sean O'Neill tipping over a curling effort from James Knowles.

O'Neill did even better when he superbly diverted a powerful Adam Glenny header from a Knowles corner onto the underside of the crossbar.

Calvin McCurry was thwarted by an excellent last-ditch tackle from Danny Wallace while at the other end, O'Neill was again busy, keeping out a fierce John McGovern strike.

The second half didn't really reach the heights of the first period with chances few and far between.

From the best of them, Ben Kennedy's inswinging free kick into the penalty area eluded everyone and eventually came back off the post.

Dungannon also came close when Cahal McGinty's header from a Leo Alves corner was cleared off the line by the alert Josh Carson.

But the decisive moment came with five minutes left when Joe Moore, only on as a sub, brought down McGinty on the edge of the penalty area and Mitchell sent O'Neill the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

At Taylors Avenue, Loughgall were happy to cede possession in the first half but had the best of the goal attempts.

On 20 minutes, Tiernan Kelly fired just wide after Alberto Balde's burst down the left wing.

Three minutes later, home defender Luke McCullough was caught dawdling by Balde but Joe Crowe rescued things for Carrick with a fine challenge.

Following the resumption, Balde headed over a Pablo Andrade cross while the winger then turned provider as he drilled a low ball across the face of goal, with the lunging Nathaniel Ferris just unable to get the decisive touch.

On 58 minutes Carrick looked set for the lead when Gibson was fouled in the box but Cushley's spot-kick was superbly saved by Gartside.

Joshua Andrew was unable to convert another Carrick chance on 78 minutes before a harsh handball against Jamie Rea gave Rangers another penalty.

This time Gibson stepped up but again Gartside made the save down low to his left with Paul Heatley blazing the rebound over the crossbar.