Five-star Linfield see off Warrenpoint Town

The Blues ran out 5-0 winners in the end to open up a gap at the summit.

After a quiet opening Linfield edged in front on 21 minutes and it was all down to some great work by Shayne Lavery He left the defender in his wake to lay the ball on a plate for Jordan Stewart to bundle home.

The Blues doubled their advantage in somewhat fortunate circumstances four minutes later as Stewart teed up Lavery, and his deflected volley looped over Coleman and hit the post before finding the net.

Three minutes before half time the hosts all but wrapped up the game as Joel Cooper fired home from a Niall Quinn cross.

Jimmy Callacher added a fourth in the second half as the home side were in cruise control.

With 15 minutes to go Andy Waterworth grabbed his goal after coming off the bench.

It was a lively opening at Shamrock Park as Portadown and Glenavon met for the second time in four days.

The visitors suffered an early blow as Colin Coates was forced off after heading a shot clear. It was the Lurgan Blues who went closes to breaking the deadlock as Gareth McCaffrey had a shot cleared off the line by Greg Hall.

Gary Hamilton’s men did get the opener on 34 minutes as the hosts failed to clear Campbell’s corner, the ball was recycled and Andy Hall, who replaced Coates, slammed home from close range.

Visiting keeper Craig Hyland had a lucky escape as he let Paul Finnegan’s long-range strike slip through his hands, but it dropped past the post.

Glenavon doubled their lead at the start of the second half as McCaffrey found space before angling a shot past Carney.

The hosts got a lifeline with 25 minutes to go as substitutes Adam Salley and Chris Lavery combined with the latter slotting home, but Glenavon held on for the win.

At the Loughshore Hotel Arena the home side broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion as Daniel Kelly lashed home a long-range effort on 10 minutes.

But the Crues were level inside a minute as Jamie McGonigle turned the ball home from close range.

McGonigle turned provider three minutes into the second half as Chris Hegarty headed in his corner.

McGonigle then teed up Michael Ruddy for the third soon after to seal it.

READ MORE:

Check out our Danske Bank Premiership Team of the Week

Rangers’ journey back to the top of Scottish football

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor