Ryan Mayse whips in a free-kick to the box and it’s met well by Josh Ukek but the header flies over the bar in what’s the last action of the half.

Ryan Curran finds Micheal Glynn in the area, but no one can convert the former Larne defender's inviting low delivery.

The Reds are on top now.

Ballymena's Josh Carson is booked for a sliding challenge on Robbie Norton in midfield.

It's the midfielder's ninth yellow card in the league - remarkably all of them have come in the first half of games.

Chris McKee does well to get past his man down the left before pulling the ball back into the penalty area, but no Linfield player is there to get on the end of it.

Linfield are enjoying more of the ball but are yet to find a clear-cut chance to try and double their advantage.

Glenavon look dangerous on the counter-attack.

Joe Gormley pulls Odhran Casey's seeking long ball back to Taylor Steven, but the winger's in-swinging cross is volleyed high into the north Belfast sky by Frankie Hvid.

Crusaders with a freekick a few yards outside the Portadown box, which Ross Clarke stands over.

There’s a bit of ping pong in the area after Clarke whips the ball in, and it soon lands at the feet of Jordan Stewart on the edge of the box.

He fires it low towards goal but Aaron McCarey gets down well to make the save.

Paul Leeman
Former Glentoran captain on BBC Radio Ulster

I don't think Glentoran can get to grips with the movement of Gormley and Curran, who has the free role and Rory Hale has been drifting out left, that is why I think Cliftonville have had the upper hand. Cliftonville's game plan has worked so far.

Tim McCann is next to be cautioned as the Glens coach takes his protests too far when questioning why his side were not awarded a penalty following Odhran Casey's challenge on David Fisher.

Loughgall defender Jamie Rea produces a brilliant clearing header from virtually in front of his own goal to thwart a dangerous Josh Carson cross.

A huge call from Tim Marshall as Odhran Casey goes in late on David Fisher, who had the defender beaten in the area, but the referee dismisses the east Belfast outfit's protests.

Portadown's Ryan Mayse sees yellow for a poor foul on Jarlath O’Rourke.

A big chance for Loughgall to regain the lead as Jordan Gibson nods the ball into the path of Nathaniel Ferris but the striker blasts wide when well placed.

Chris Atherton's corner almost catches David Walsh out as it hits the crossbar an goes behind for a goal kick.

Whether it was deliberate or not, Atherton certainly had the Linfield goalkeeper worried for a second.

Loughgall's Conor McCloskey and Ballymena's Ben Kennedy are cautioned for the most minor of flare-ups.

Both managers are united in voicing their disapproval to referee Evan Boyce for that decision.

Michael Glynn pokes the ball through to Ryan Curran, but the attacker's strike from a distance is well blocked by Fuad Sule.

The home side have their tails up now after a tentative start.

Joe Gormley goes close to doubling the Reds' advantage as Taylor Stevens' cross is deflected into the frontman's path, but Gormley is denied by the alert Daniel Gyollai.

Ballymena's Aaron Jarvis collects the first yellow card of the afternoon for tugging back Nathaniel Ferris in the centre circle.

In the build-up to the opener, James Singleton is shown a yellow for a late challenge on Axel Piesold in midfield.