Unbeaten Coleraine win to close gap on Glentoran

Coleraine players celebrate Will Patching's opening goal from the pemalty spot

Coleraine beat Portadown 4-1 at Shamrock Park on Saturday to extend their unbeaten record at the start the season to six matches and reduce their deficit to Premiership leaders Glentoran to one point.

Two goals from Will Patching, the first a penalty, plus strikes from Matthew Shevlin and Joel Cooper, made it five wins a draw for the Bannsiders, who have one game in hand over the league pacesetters.

Larne recorded a fourth consecutive win on a 1-0 scoreline thanks to Matthew Ridley's headed goal to maintain their challenge in third spot while Crusaders ran out convincing 3-0 winners at Dungannon Swifts to halt their recent poor run of form.

A thrilling encounter at Solitude saw Cliftonville secure a last-gasp 3-2 win over 10-man Ballymena United thanks to Jack Keaney's free-kick deep in stoppage time.

The match between Carrick Rangers and Bangor at Taylors Avenue was abandoned with 53 minutes played after Paul Heatley collided heavily with a perimeter wall while trying to keep the ball in play.

Impressive Coleraine march on

At Shamrock Park, Coleraine were awarded a penalty in added time at the end of the first half after Aaron McCarey originally collected, but then spilled Patching's corner, with Baris Altintop penalised for handling the ball during the resulting scramble.

The former Derry City frontman took the spot-kick and slotted into the bottom left-hand corner and past the Portadown stopper, who had dived the correct way.

Shevlin gave Coleraine a more comfortable lead in the 56th minute after the busy McCarey misjudged Patching's shot and the Coleraine striker reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.

On the hour mark, Steven McCullough's free-kick from 20-yards was denied by the inside of the post as the home side pushed for a goal.

However, Ruaidhri Higgins' side extended their lead just six minutes later when Cooper's low left-footed strike from just outside the box found the bottom corner.

Patching made it 4-0 with five minutes to go when he skipped around multiple Portadown players before finding the top corner.

On 89 minutes, James Teelan burst through on goal, stayed composed and slotted past stopper Aidan Harris.

The home side pushed for another goal until the final whistle and were denied by the woodwork again when substitute Rayhaan Tulloch's shot crashed off the crossbar.

Larne win to heap more misery on Glenavon

Defender Ridley's late header secured Larne a hard-fought 1-0 win over Glenavon at Inver Park.

The Englishman was left unmarked at the back post from a Sean Graham corner in the 81st minute to head into an empty net after Jacob Carney missed the flight of the ball.

It was a rare blemish from the Glenavon goalkeeper who had an inspired afternoon between the sticks.

The home side passed up a golden opportunity to open the scoring five minutes before the break when Conor McKendry went tumbling under a challenge from Sean Carlin inside the penalty area.

Mark Randall stepped up to take the spot-kick but his well-struck effort was superbly saved by Carney diving to his right, Randall blazing the rebound high over the bar.

Earlier, Glenavon's impressive 17-year-old forward Paul McGovern fired narrowly over the bar after showing great strength to hold off his marker while Kyle McClelland's close range effort from a Jack Malone corner was hacked clear off the line.

Carney denied Randall again after half-time, this time turning his free-kick round his near post, and somehow managed to tip over Benji Mage's goal bound volley midway through the half to keep his side in the game.

But with time running out, up stepped Ridley with his first goal for the club to bank the points and make it seven defeats in a row for Glenavon.

Reds edge out Ballymena in thriller

At Solitude, the visitors took the lead on 28 minutes as Success Edogun's attempted low cross from the right deflected off the foot of Micheal Glynn and looped over helpless keeper Lewis Ridd.

The home side levelled five minutes into the second period when Ademayo Fapetu connected with Keaney's cross and his header sailed beyond the reach of O'Neill.

Cliftonville came close to going in front when Rory Hale threaded a pass into the path of Shea Gordon but his shot was deflected onto the base of the post by the outstretched foot of defender Daithi McCallion.

But the Reds did take the lead just short of the hour mark when substitute Sean Robertson's cross was diverted into his own net by United defender Stephen O'Donnell.

There was huge controversy on 70 minutes as Rory Hale sent a dangerous cross into the penalty area which Ben Kennedy palmed away. However, referee Louise Thompson adjudged that Stephen O'Donnell had committed the offence and was shown a second yellow card.

After lengthy protests, Joe Gormley blasted the resultant spot kick over the crossbar.

Ballymena levelled with five minutes left when Kennedy's corner was headed back across goal and Aaron Jarvis stretched to poke the ball home from close range.

But there was still time for some even later drama three minutes into stoppage time as Keaney curled a free kick around the Ballymena defensive wall and it squeezed under the body of O'Neill at his near post.

Crues too strong for Swifts

The visitors wasted no time stamping their authority at Stangmore Park, teenager Josh Williamson volleying home inside seven minutes. Elliot Dunlop's deep cross was nodded back by Ross Clarke, and Williamson arrived with perfect timing to lash past Declan Dunne.

Momentum stayed with Declan Caddell's side, who doubled their lead midway through the half. Substitute Lloyd Anderson burst down the right after pouncing on a loose ball and delivered an inviting cross that Adam Brooks steered neatly into the corner with a firm header.

Any lingering doubt was removed on 63 minutes. Robbie Weir refused to give up on what looked like a lost cause, hooking the ball back for Anderson, whose clever chip to the far post was met by substitute Fraser Bryden. Arriving unmarked, he stooped to nod home and put the result beyond question.

Clarke had earlier dazzled with stepovers before firing tamely at Dunne, while Williamson's clever pass sent Dunlop through on goal, only for the Swifts keeper to stand tall.

At the other end, Jonny Tuffey showcased his experience with a sharp stop, springing across to beat away Kealan Dillon's dipping strike.

Dungannon did fashion opportunities after the interval, Dillon scuffing when well placed, before Andrew Mitchell rose unmarked but headed wide. By then, though, the contest was sewn up by the north Belfast outfit.