IRISH LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Bangor, Larne, Glentoran and Linfield earn victories as Dungannon Swifts and Ballymena United share the spoils

Linfield maintained their hold of second spot in the table after a 1-0 victory against Crusaders at Windsor Park.

The Blues edged out their city rivals by a solitary goal as Kitt Nelson’s goal just two minutes into the second half was enough to edge out the Hatchetmen.

placeholder image — Jordan Jenkins is mobbed by his Glentoran team-mates after scoring the winner against Cliftonville at Solitude

David Healy’s men had to do things the hard way as Kirk Millar was dismissed with a straight red card with 20 minutes remaining.

There was also a morale-boosting win for Glentoran as they sealed a 2-1 success against Cliftonville at Solitude.

Both teams traded goals in the opening 45 minutes as Jack Malone’s opener for Glentoran was cancelled out by Dean McMaster’s reply.

However, the Glens – who are still looking for a permanent successor since Declan Devine’s departure – took the spoils late on through Jordan Jenkins’ goal and then had to hang on after Malone was sent-off for two bookable offences.

The east Antrim derby was a goal-fest at Taylors Avenue as Larne took the bragging rights in a seven-goal thriller.

Larne blasted themselves into a 3-0 lead but Carrick replied with two of their own before the interval.

However, Gary Haveron’s side ensured they would win for a fifth successive game as Paul O’Neill completed his hat-trick, with Dan Bent successfully converting twice from the spot.

There would also be a red card in the game as Joe Crowe was sent-off.

Elsewhere, Bangor picked up their first win of the campaign after a 3-1 home triumph against Portadown.

Lewis Harrison, Lucas McRoberts and Iestyn Hughes got the goals for Lee Feeney’s men, with Oisin Devlin’s own goal giving the visitors some consolation.

The red mist was also present at Cladeboye Park as Portadown defender Lewis MacKinnon was sent-off in the first-half.

Remarkably, every 3pm kick-off in the Irish League had a red card as Scot Whiteside was dismissed in Ballymena’s 1-1 draw at Dungannon Swifts.

The defender was ordered off the park just minutes after Igor Rutkowski had given the Sky Blues the lead.

The Swifts equalised just before the break through Danny Wallace as neither side could find a winner.

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS:

Bangor 3-1 Portadown

Carrick Rangers 2-5 Larne

Cliftonville 1-2 Glentoran

Dungannon Swifts 1-1 Ballymena United

Linfield 1-0 Crusaders

Coleraine vs Limavady United (6pm kick-off)

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS: