Dungannon up to second as Linfield and Portadown win

John McGovern scored twice for Dungannon Swifts at Seaview

Dungannon Swifts have moved up to second place in the Irish Premiership with a 5-1 win over Crusaders at Seaview.

John McGovern and Tomas Galvin scored twice as Dungannon Swifts jumped ahead of Glentoran, whose game at Ballymena United was postponed.

The Swifts are 12 points behind leaders Linfield, who defeated Carrick Rangers 3-0 at Windsor Park.

Portadown are up to fourth place with a 1-0 win over bottom side Loughgall.

As well as Ballymena United against Glentoran, Glenavon's match with Coleraine also fell victim to the weather due to a frozen pitch.

Swifts light up Seaview

McGovern and Galvin both scored twice as Dungannon Swifts came away from Seaview with a statement 5-1 victory over Crusaders.

Rodney McAree's side got off to a perfect start as Leo Alves picked out John McGovern and the forward rifled a low finish into the bottom corner.

New recruit Bermingham, who netted on his debut in the Irish Cup the previous week, added a second before the quarter-hour mark as Alves' free-kick was headed back across goal by Dean Curry and the striker was there to touch home from close range.

Josh O'Connor came close to an immediate response for the hosts but his header from Jarlath O'Rourke's cross rattled the post before the break.

Things got even better for the Swifts as McGovern grabbed his second goal of the game after a neat one-two with Kealan Dillon.

The game settled into a lull before a flurry of goals late in the match. Substitute Galvin drove a low effort into the bottom corner to put the Swifts four goals to the good before Jordan Owens pulled one back with a deflected strike.

However, Galvin would have the final say in injury time as he restored Dungannon's four-goal advantage with a superb free-kick which flew into the top corner.

The Swifts moved up to second place as their superb season continued while Crusaders remain eighth in the table.

Linfield keep setting pace

At Windsor Park, a second-half show kept Linfield in control of the title race.

On his comeback from injury, Kyle McClean shot from just outside the area in the early stages, but his effort zipped just wide of the left-hand upright before Kirk Millar fired over after some good work in the area by Joel Cooper.

Linfield should have had the lead on the stroke of half-time but Matthew Fitzpatrick's header was superbly saved by Ross Glendinning.

David Healy's side finally broke Carrick's resistance four minutes after the restart when Cooper checked inside and curled an effort beyond Glendinning for his 12th goal of the campaign.

Linfield made it two five minutes later when Cameron Ballantyne played a reverse pass into the area for Euan East, who smashed home from an acute angle.

As Carrick pushed for a response, Fitzpatrick, who signed a two-year extension on Thursday, put the game beyond Stephen Baxter's side.

After some superb build-up play, Fitzpatrick guided home Millar's cross with a clever first-time finish to secure the three points for the league leaders.

Portadown up to fourth

James Teelan's first-half goal was the difference as Portadown defeated bottom side Loughgall 1-0 at Lakeview Park.

The winger, who moved to Portadown at the start of the January transfer window, steered home the decisive goal in the 34th minute after a clever backheel on the edge of the area by Ryan Mayse.

Jay Boyd stung the palms of Aaron McCarey as the hosts looked for a response, while Eamon Fyfe's free-kick forced Nathan Gartside into a strong save before the break.

Loughgall rallied after half-time and Gary Thompson's superb block stopped Robbie Norton from equalising while Mayse had two excellent chances to add a second for Portadown as he lifted Aaron Traynor's cross over the bar before he was denied by Adam Towe's goal-line clearance.

Nathaniel Ferris drew a fine save from McCarey before the Villagers twice hit the woodwork.

Ferris saw a header crash off the upright before debutant Robert Mahon rattled the crossbar as Loughgall went close to what would have been a crucial equaliser in their battle to avoid the drop, while Paul McElroy spurned a chance to double Portadown's lead in the closing stages.

Irish Premiership results - Saturday, 11 January

Ballymena United - P - Glentoran

Crusaders 1-5 Dungannon Swifts

Glenavon - P - Coleraine

Linfield 3-0 Carrick Rangers

Loughgall 0-1 Portadown