Ryan Waide delivers a superb cross from the right, curling it just beyond the reach of a stretching Joe Crowe in the six-yard area.

It’s an odd dynamic that's beginning to take shape at Taylors Avenue.

Both sides appear more exposed in possession than out of it, with loose passes and hesitant play inviting pressure. Right now, it’s on the break where either team looks most likely to carve out a goal.

Patrick Solis Grogan comes to the rescue to deny Linfield a certain goal.

Chris McKee takes a heavy touch but only has the keeper to beat, and Solis Grogan is quick off his line to deny the Blues striker from getting a shot away.

The goalkeeper is down receiving treatment for his troubles, but it looks like he will continue.

Danny Gibson swings in a cross from the left and Adam Lecky rises to meet it, but his header loops high into the air.

Aaron McCarey misjudges it at first but regathers calmly at the second attempt.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Liam Beckett
Sportsound summariser

Ben Arthurs has been such a threat all day.

His chances show what a threat he is.

Ballymena almost respond quickly as Succes Edogun's shot is saved by Jonny Tuffey and Aaron Jarvis' follow-up effort is blocked by defender Odhran McCart,

A neat, flowing move from Portadown sees Gary Thompson, Ben Wylie and Eamon Fyfe combine crisply through midfield.

It opens up promisingly as Divin Ismala darts into the box, but the full-back loses his footing at the crucial moment and the chance slips away.

Danny Gibson bursts down the left with intent and feeds Adam Lecky on the edge of the area.

The towering striker looks to roll his marker, but Baris Altintop reads it superbly, stepping in to snuff out the danger with a well-timed challenge.

Ben Arthurs meets Tiernan Mulvenna's corner with his head and forces Chris Johns into a save.

Arthurs' effort is straight at Johns, who gathers routinely in the end.

Eric McWoods with his second chance of the afternoon, again blazing high over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area following good work from Thomas Lavery.

Baris Altintop goes into the book after cynically halting Paul Heatley’s surging run from midfield. The veteran winger had space to exploit, but Altintop made sure he got nowhere near the final third.

Sean Ward
BBC Sport NI pundit

In terms of possession stats, Coleraine are the side who have had a lot more of the ball. They are moving the ball well through the areas.

Cliftonville are very happy to set up in defence deeper, absorb that pressure and find McWoods on the breakaway.

Image source, Press Eye

The visitors pass up a big chance to break the deadlock midway through the opening half.

Joel Cooper feeds Matthew Shevlin who holds off his marker before laying the ball into the path of the supporting Jamie Glackin.

The midfielder looks to place the ball past Cliftonville keeper PJ Morrison but succeeds only in finding the side netting.

Eamon Fyfe shows sharp awareness to prod a clever pass through to Jordan Gibson in space, 20 yards from goal. But the Ports midfielder leans back as he strikes it and lifts his effort high into the Carrick sky.

Cliftonville claims for a penalty are waved away by referee Steven Gregg.

Eric McWoods delivers a ball into the penalty area, where it appears to strike Coleraine defender Kodi Lyons-Foster on the arm.

The man in the middle, though, waves play on.

Rhythm is in short supply so far at Taylors Avenue. It's been a disjointed, scrappy affair so far, with both sides opting for a more direct approach to goal.

A big chance for Crusaders as Ali Gould gives away possession deep inside his own half.

Adam Brooks races clear and pokes the ball wide of Sean O'Neill - but wide of the goal as well.

Ross Clarke cuts in from the right hand flank and warms Sean O'Neill's palms with a low shot which the Ballymena keeper gathers at the second attempt.