Another chance for the home side and it's Joel Cooper this time who tries his luck from outside the area.

The Linfield winger cuts in from the right hand side onto his left foot before letting fly from just outside the box.

His effort is straight at Martin Gallagher in the Coleraine goal who deals with the shot comfortably.

Seanan Clucas comes close again for the Glens as his thumping header from a Sean Murray corner is brilliantly tipped over by Sean O'Neill.

Great play from the league leaders as Ben Doherty plays a neat one-two with Leroy Millar 25 yards from goal before shooting at Gartside's front post, but the former Derry City stopper is equal to it.

Cliftonville immediately go up the pitch and Shaun Want had to be alert to stop Ronan Hale's thunderbolt of a shot inside the Larne penalty area.

End to end stuff here at Solitude.

Jordan Forsythe's looping pass finds Crues forward Adam Lecky at the back post but his resulting header is just wide.

Robbie McDaid is the second Linfield player to go in referee Ian McNabb's book.

The Blues forward is cautioned for a push on Jamie Glackin as he was breaking forward.

Sean Graham shows some neat footwork to put Ballymena United in front against Glentoran.

What a save!

Larne should be in front, Lee Bonis with a pinpoint cross for former Cliftonville frontman Paul O'Neill whose first time shot from close range draws a great reactionary save from Nathan Gartside.

It remains goalless here at Solitude but we aren't sure how.

Seanan Clucas drifts in behind the Ballymena defence to meet a Rhys Marshall cross but United keeper Sean O'Neill is well positioned to hold his header.

Linfield again go agonisingly close to finding the opening goal but are denied by a superb save from Martin Gallagher in the Coleraine goal.

Daniel Finlayson gets on the end of a Matthew Clarke corner and directs his powerful header towards goal, but is denied by an outstanding save by Gallagher at full stretch.

Best chance of the game so far.

Another chance for Portadown, this time Christopher Rodgers has a tame header that produces an easy save for Declan Dunne.

Portadown edge closer to the opening goal as a brave header from Jordan Jenkins goes narrowly wide of the right post.

The opportunity comes from a perfect cross from Lee Chapman from the right wing.

Carrick have their first strike on target of the game as Lloyd Anderson's shot is goal bound but proves an easy save for Johnathan Tuffey.

Carrick are still struggling to create chances - when the ball breaks in their favour the Crusaders midfield are able to regain possession before it can become a threat.

It really is all Crusaders so far but they just can't seem to find a second goal.

Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser at Solitude

Sean Moore is showing a real confidence in his own ability and that's great to see from such a young player.

And this is a proper Irish League game, both teams are having a go.

The wide areas seem pivotal for both teams. They've both taken the shackles off and are going out to win the game. Everything's being done at a fast pace. They're trying to put a marker down to Linfield.

Linfield again go close and it's from an unlikely source in Matthew Clarke.

The Blues left-back finds space and charges forward before unleashing a strike from just outside the box. He drags his shot just wide of the far post.

Linfield are looking the far more likely here but the game remains goalless.

Aaron Jarvis receives a yellow card for pulling back Jamie Mulgrew who was looking to break forward.

Ballymena go close again as Josh Kelly flashes a header wide from a Ryan Waide cross.

At the other end, a Sean Murray free kick is punched over from virtually under his own crossbar by United keeper Sean O'Neill.

Cliftonville with their best period of the game.

They're enjoying sustained possession in and around the Larne box which has the away side's defence on their toes with Sean Moore, Ronan Hale and Joe Gormley attempting to fashion a clear-cut opportunity between themselves.

Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2023

15:26 GMT 2 January 2023

Carrick Rangers 0-1 Crusaders

Carrick's Andy Mitchell is down receiving treatment for what looks like a thigh injury.

He's unable to play on and is replaced by Ronan Kalla.

Liam Beckett
Sportsound summariser

It's been a tentative opening, understandably so with so much at stake. Chris Shields and Jamie Mulgrew are starting to conduct affairs and stamp their authority on midfield, and the front two of McDaid and Vertainen are getting better service because of that.