Glenavon defeat Ports as Ballymena, Carrick & Crues win

Jack Malone celebrates scoring Glenavon's equaliser against Portadown

David McDaid hit a last-minute winner as Glenavon came from behind to beat derby rivals Portadown 2-1 at Moureview Park.

Ahu Obhakhan bundled in to put the Ports in front and Jack Malone levelled on 58 minutes before McDaid won it.

Ballymena United thumped Loughgall 4-1 at the Showgrounds to move a point clear at the top of the Premiership.

A managerless Carrick Rangers side stunned Cliftonville 2-0 while Crusaders edged Coleraine 2-1 at Seaview.

Lurgan Blues take derby honours

Portadown duo Steven McCullough and Ryan Mayse combined brilliantly down the left hand side for the opening goal, with Mayse delivering an inviting low ball into the box.

Obhakhan managed to get in front of his marker to bundle the ball over the line at the front post and score somewhat against the run of play.

Glenavon enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening half but found it hard to break down a resolute Portadown defence.

However, they got the goal their efforts deserved 15 minutes into the second half with a tidy finish from midfielder Malone.

Len O’Sullivan broke into space down Portadown’s right hand side and when the ball was recycled to Malone he showed great composure to side foot the ball into the bottom corner of the net past a helpless Aaron McCarey.

And the comeback was complete in added time as McDaid showed all his striker’s instinct to poke home from close range to secure a first home win of the season for the Lurgan Blues.

Sky Blues on Premiership summit

Ballymena went in front from the penalty spot on 25 minutes after a clumsy challenge by Luke Cartwright on Calvin McCurry and Ben Kennedy tucked the resultant spot kick past Nathan Gartside.

The home side doubled their lead two minutes later when defender Kym Nelson arrived unmarked to head home Josh Carson’s corner from close range.

Loughgall got back into the game on 32 minutes when Ballymena’s Danny Lafferty’s attempted clearance cannoned off team-mate Donal Rocks and fell to Jay Boyd who beat Sean O’Neill with a low shot.

But Ballymena restored their two-goal advantage two minutes later wen Joe Moore’s low cross from the left was slid home by the in-rushing Andy Scott.

The Sky Blues added a fourth just before the hour mark when Carson’s free kick was headed back across goal by Nelson for Joe Moore to convert at the back post.

The result puts Ballymena top of the table for the first time in six years.

Carrick overcome Reds

Mark Surgenor was in temporary charge of Carrick for the first time after the midweek departure of Stuart King and he saw his side break the deadlock in the 24th minute at Taylors Avenue.

Danny Gibson latched onto Seanan Clucas's laser-guided throughball and the former Glentoran man left Michael Newberry in his wake before expertly dispatching past David Odumosu from an improbable angle, notching his second of the campaign.

Paul Heatley, a constant thorn in the visitors' side, nearly doubled the host's advantage midway through the first half. The former Crusaders man's curling effort tested Odumosu before he skipped past Shaun Leppard minutes later, drawing another save from the ex-St Pat's stopper.

The Reds' sole moment of promise came four minutes before the interval. Rory Hale's quick-thinking released Sean Stewart, whose thunderbolt looked goalbound but was heroically blocked by Luke McCullough.

After the interval the Mid-East Antrim outfit maintained their relentless pressure. Gibson, ever-alert, quickly pounced on Michael Glynn's wayward back pass in the 58th minute, only to be thwarted by Jonny Addis's last-ditch intervention with just Odumsou to beat.

Carrick's persistence bore fruit four minutes later when Seanan Clucas opened his Rangers account.

Stewart's deflected header fell fortuitously, and with exquisite technique, Clucas curled home with the outside of his boot to lift Carrick off the bottom of the table with a much-needed win after eight straight league defeats.

Stewart strike gives Crues win

Crusaders opened the scoring on the 23rd minute after Kieran Offord took advantage of a mistake in the Coleraine defence and played in Stewart Nixon, who found the top corner from close range.

Shortly after, Connor Murray's strike from distance glanced the top of the Crusaders crossbar on its path out of play.

The away side levelled when Dylan Boyle connected with Jamie McGonigle’s pass from the left wing, took a touch and fired a strong strike past the outstretched Jonny Tuffey and into the bottom corner.

After their goal, Coleraine looked more likely to score another before the half-time whistle with their best chance coming when Murray sent the ball across to Jamie Glackin, who had space but failed to convert.

It was a slow start to the second half with Declan Caddell’s side taking the lead through the first meaningful chance on the 56th minute. After good work from Harry Franklin in midfield, Jordan Stewart connected with the summer signing’s throughball and found the back of the net.

Coleraine stopper Max Little then made an impressive save to tip Ross Clarke’s effort from distance over the crossbar to deny the north Belfast side a more comfortable lead.