Saturday’s Irish Premiership games (01/10/2016)

• Ballinamallard United 2-0 Dungannon Swifts

Ballinamallard United picked up their third win in four games with a 2-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts at Ferney Park.

James McKenna fired the hosts into the lead in the 24th minute when with a close-range finish from Adam Lecky’s flick-on into the danger area.

The hosts made the game safe 12 minutes from time when Jarlath O’Rourke hauled down Ryan Mayse in the area, and Adam Lecky scored from the resulting penalty.

Ballinamallard remain in ninth place as a result of their victory, while Dungannon drop to eighth.

• Coleraine 2-2 Ballymena

Ballymena and Coleraine shared the spoils following an entertaining 2-2 draw in their derby match at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Saturday.

Cahair Freil opened the scoring for the Sky Blues on 52minutes when he steered home Tony Kane’s free kick, and added a second 12 minutes from time to seeming put his side in control.

Coleraine pulled one back through Jordan Allen with a minute to go, and Allen added his second of the afternoon a minute later to earn a point for his side.

Ballymena fall eight points behind leaders Crusaders as a result of the draw, while Coleraine move up to seventh.

• Glenavon 1-0 Portadown

Glenavon heaped more misery on basement side Portadown as they recorded a 1-0 win over their rivals in the Mid Ulster derby at Mourneview Park.

The biggest talking point of a goalless first half was a red card awarded to Brendan Shannon for a horror challenge on Glenavon’s Joel Cooper.

Kevin Braniff scored the only goal of the game in the 65th minute when he tapped in from four yards from Andy Hall’s low cross.

The result means that Glenavon move up to fourth in the table, with the Ports still languishing at the bottom on -6 points.

• Ards 3-1 Carrick Rangers

Ards moved up to fifth in the Irish Premiership table courtesy of a 3-1 win over Carrick Rangers at Clandeboye Park on Sunday.

The hosts got off the mark from the penalty spot, with Martin Murray capitalising from 12 yards after a foul on Mark Surgeoner in the penalty area.

However Carrick pulled one back from the spot just after the half hour mark when Michael Ruddy converted from the spot after a foul on Joe McKinney.

Emmett Friars restored his side’s advantage with a header in the 48th minute, before substitute Carl McComb made the game safe with a low drive 15 minutes from time.

• Glentoran 1 - 2 Linfield

Linfield earned the first Big Two bragging rights of the season with a 2-1 win over derby rivals glentoran at the Oval on Saturday.

The Blues went in front in somewhat fortuitous fashion in the sixth minute when Marcus Kane deflected a Kirk Millar cross into his own net.

Glentoran got themselves back into the contest when Curtis Allen got the final touch on Jonny Addis’s goal bound header, but former Glens player Jimmy Callagher scored what proved to be the winner with a powerful header three minutes from time.

The result means Linfield remain in second position and five points behind leaders Crusaders, while Gary Haveron’s side remain tenth.

• Crusaders 4-3 Cliftonville

Premiership leaders Crusaders fought back from 3-0 down to earn a 4-3 victory over Belfast rivals Cliftonville in what was a pulsating game at Seaview on Saturday.

The Reds took the lead after just 15 minutes when Daniel Hughes found the top corner with a neat right-foot finish, and doubled their advantage when Jay Donnelly blasted home from an acute angle eight minutes into the second half.

Ruairi Harkin added a superb volleyed third in the 65th minute to seemingly put Cliftonville in complete control before the Crues mounted a stunning fightback.

Jordan Owens headed home a minute later to give his side a lifeline, and further reduced the deficit when he added another header 12 minutes from time.

Colin Coates scrambled home the equaliser with a minute left, and with time running out and Reds boss Gerard Lyttle sent to the stands, David Cushley fired home from close range to seal a remarkable victory.

• Ards 3 - 1 Carrick Rangers
• Ballinamallard United 2 - 0 Dungannon Swifts
• Coleraine 2 - 2 Ballymena United
• Crusaders 4 - 3 Cliftonville
• Glenavon 1 - 0 Portadown
• Glentoran 1 - 2 Linfield