Shayne Lavery the hat-trick hero for Linfield

Second placed Larne picked up their first win of 2021 with a 4-1 victory at Glenavon.

Cliftonville new boy Paul O’Neill earned his side a share of the spoils at Coleraine.

And Dungannon Swifts new additions, Rory Patterson and Roy Carroll, played their part in a 1-0 win at Ballymena.

Linfield broke the deadlock on 14 minutes as Shayne Lavery headed home Jordan Stewart’s cross after good work on the left by the wide man.

And the front man double his and the Blues’ tally three minutes before half time as his deflected shot looped up over Ports keeper Jacob Carney.

Stewart then became the second Blues player to have an effort hit the bar after Mark Stafford has hit the woodwork in the first half.

David Healy’s men wrapped up the win on the hour mark as that man Lavery completed his hat-trick after a scramble in front of the Ports goal.

At Mourneview Park Larne almost got off to the perfect start as David McDaid latched on to Craig Hyland’s poor clearance, he went round the keeper, but Andrew Doyle got back to clear the danger.

Hyland redeemed himself minutes getting down well to push away Ronan Hale’s effort, and he had to be sharp to deny McDaid again moments later.

The pressure finally told on 21 minutes as Lee Lynch fired home from the edge of the box.

The hosts were level inside five minutes as Michael O’Connor coolly slotted home from the spot after Albert Watson was adjudged to have handled Conor McCloskey’s cross.

Larne edged back in front five minutes into the second half as Jeff Hughes looped a header over Hyalnd from close range.

It was 3-1 just before the hour mark as a superb pass from Mark Randall sent Hale clear and he picked his spot past Hyland.

And as the game moved towards the closing stages Andrew Mitchell fired home from the spot after Hale have been brought down by Doyle.

At The Showgrounds the visitors broke the deadlock inside four minutes as Rory Hale raced on to Paul O’Neill’s flick before lifting it over Gareth Deane.

Coleraine drew themselves level on 20 minutes as Graeth McConaghie’s free kick was only parried by Aaron McCarey and Aaron Traynor was on hand to slam home the rebound on his 100th appearance for the club.

Four minutes before the break the Bannsiders completed the turnaround as James McLaughlin slotted home Ian Parkhill’s cross at the near post.

Coleraine spurned several chances to grab a third and they were made to pay as that man O’Neill bundled home an equaliser with six minutes to go to earn his side a share of the spoils.

At Ballymena Roy Carroll made his comeback with Dungannon Swifts and proved his worth with two excellent saves to deny Ben Wylie and Josh Kelly.

It proved vital as the visitors broke the deadlock on 81 minutes. Jordan Williamson could only parry Rory Patterson’s free kick and Rhyss Campbell fired in the rebound after a scramble.

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