Late drama at top of the Danske Bank Premiership

The Blues were 1-0 up after Shayne Lavery’s early strike but were pegged back with seven minutes to go as Daniel Kelly levelled the game.

At Inver Park Lee Bonis earned Portadown a share of the spoils with a last minute goal.

Three games fell foul of the weather with Cliftonville beating Warrenpoint Town 3-0 in the remaining game.

Linfield got off to a flying at the Loughshore Hotel Arena.

A minute after Lavery failed to connect with a ball across the face of goal the Northern Ireland international made amends.

He latched on to a through ball, held off Chris Rodgers before lashing his shot past Aaron Hogg. It looked as though the League leaders were going to see the game out with another win but there was late drama.

The homes side were growing in confidence and they grabbed a deserved equaliser with seven minutes to go as Daniel Kelly fired home after a corner.

Portadown opened the scoring at Inver Park on six minutes after a defensive mix-up from the hosts.

Graham Kelly’s attempted headed back-pass looped over the advancing Conor Devlin allowing Ben Guy to nick in and tap into the empty net.

Larne responded with Mark Randall having an effort pushed out by Jacob Carney, but new signing Dylan Mottley-Henry marked his full debut by slamming the ball home.

And the home side edged in front on 19 minutes as Mottley-Henry showed great pace before crossing for substitute Ronan Hale to score.

The hosts though were punished in the final minute as the visitors drew themselves. Lee Bonis was the man on the spot as he rose highest to head home the leveller.

At Solitude a double from Ryan Curran either side of a Paul O’Neill strike gave the Reds the win. Both Danny Wallace and Jamie Harney were sent off in the second half.

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