Blues 13 points clear as keeper nets in Glens win

Linfield are now 13 points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership after a 1-0 home win over Glenavon as keeper Daniel Gyollai scored in Glentoran's 2-1 comeback victory over Cliftonville.

Chris McKee's 11th-minute goal was enough for David Healy's side to win at Windsor Park even though the Blues were decidedly unimpressive in the second half against Paddy McLaughlin's men.

Joe Gormley put Cliftonville ahead as they dominated early on at Solitude but Gyollai's free-kick from just outside his own penalty area got the Glens on terms before half-time as the ball bounced over his opposite number David Odumosu.

The Reds keeper was then at fault for Glentoran's winner as he allowed Danny Amos' 78th-minute free-kick to slip through his grasp and the Reds finished with 10 men after Odhran Casey's red card.

Chris McKee scored Linfield's early winner against Glenavon at Windsor Park

Glentoran's win moves them level on points with second-placed Portadown, who earned a 1-0 home win over Crusaders thanks to Steven McCullough's second-half goal.

Crusaders' Jordan Stewart had twice struck the Ports woodwork shortly before McCullough's strike.

Nine-man Ballymena United held on to clinch a 3-2 win at bottom side Loughgall which got them back to winning ways after six defeats in their previous seven games.

Ballymena led 2-1 at half-time after goals from Andy Scott and Calvin McCurry following Adam Towe's opener for the home side.

Ben Kennedy extended the Braidmen's lead after the break but after Josh Carson's sending-off, a Daithi McCallion own goal cut the deficit and Kennedy was then red carded himself as Jim Ervin's side held on.

At Windsor Park, McKee's early goal proved enough to extend Linfield's advantage at the top even though it was far from a vintage performance by the Blues.

The goal came as Matthew Fitzpatrick released Ethan McGee down the left, who crossed into the box where McKee was on hand to head home

Despite bossing possession and creating more chances, Linfield couldn't add to their lead before the break which gave Glenavon a lifeline going into the second half.

It was the visitors who looked the more threatening in the second half with the Blues finding it more difficult to hold onto the ball and create any real attacking opportunities.

Despite their best efforts and constant pressure in the second period, the Lurgan Blues were unable to find an equaliser with Linfield picking up another crucial three points.

Glentoran keeper Gyollai's bizarre goal turned the contest at Solitude after Cliftonville had spurned opportunities to add to Gormley's 29th-minute goal.

Gormley put the dominant Reds ahead as he ghosted unmarked to the far post to head home Taylor Stevens' pinpoint delivery for his 15th league strike of the campaign.

The Cliftonville goalscorer might have doubled his tally moments moments later while a flowing move involving Ryan Curran and Rory Hale then culminated in Stevens being thwarted by Gyollai.

But the hosts' advantage evaporated in extraordinary circumstances on the stroke of half-time when Gyollai's free-kick from deep inside his own half bounced over Casey and then keeper Odumosu into the Cliftonville net.

The east Belfast side completed their comeback in the 78th minute when Amos' free-kick somehow squirmed through Odumosu's grasp to complete a day the Reds custodian will want to forget.

Stevens had earlier threatened to restore the north Belfast side's advantage, but after deceiving the Glens backline, the winger's finish lacked the necessary power, which allowed Kodi Lyons-Foster to clear off the line.

Any hopes of a late Cliftonville revival were dashed when Casey received a second yellow card for a rash challenge four minutes from time.

Portadown moved into second spot as they dealt a third straight defeat to Crusaders.

The north Belfast side will feel they should have taken something from this game though, having struck the woodwork three times.

Jordan Forsythe went close for the Crues with a headed effort before his free-kick cannoned off the base of a post.

Portadown grew into the game as the first half wore on with Ahu Obhakhan getting into good areas but lacking the finish.

Crusaders picked up the pace after the resumption and Stewart struck the crossbar twice in almost as many minutes, firstly with a close-range effort following a series of corners and then from a curling effort.

Amid the Crusaders pressure, Ports keeper Aaron McCarey made a pointblank save to deny Ross Clarke and the visitors were left to rue the missed chances as McCullough squeezed the ball into the bottom corner with a low drive on 58 minutes.

Nine-man Ballymena win at Loughgall

At Lakeview Park, Ballymena almost went in front inside the opening 10 minutes when Scott raced clear on the right flank and his low cross was met with a first-time shot by Josh Carson but Loughgall keeper Nathan Gartside made a brilliant instinctive save to divert the ball wide of the post.

Loughgall did take the lead on 14 minutes when Towe travelled a good distance with the ball at his feet and his shot eventually trundled beyond Sean O'Neill into the net.

But Ballymena's response was instant as Scott took advantage of some hesitation between defender Lewis Francis and Nathan Gartside to cleverly lift the ball over the stranded keeper.

Ballymena went back in front in first-half stoppage time as Gartside made a superb initial block from Kennedy's header from a Carson corner but McCurry was alert to blast home the rebound.

United extended their lead eight minutes after the restart when Carson provided a lovely back-heel for Kennedy to drill a shot between Gartside's legs.

But Carson's afternoon ended abruptly before the hour mark when he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Nathaniel Ferris.

Loughgall reduced the deficit four minutes later when Ballymena defender McCallion, under pressure from Jay Boyd, sliced a clearance into his own net.

Ballymena were reduced to nine men with eight minutes left when Kennedy was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Jamie Rea but Ballymena were able to fend off considerable Loughgall pressure in the closing stages as the home side remained six points adrift at the bottom.