NIFL Premiership Round-up - Week 3

This week’s showpiece game in the NIFL Premiership got under way at Seaview as Crusaders hosted Belfast rivals, Linfield. Tipped as two firm title contenders before the campaign, both sides had started the league season slowly, with each outfit going into game 3 still searching for their first victory.

Before the fixture, much emphasis had been placed on the Linfield supporter’s decision to boycott the clash in response to Crusaders’ judicial review over the proposed government funding of Windsor Park. In the end, very few Bluemen made the short trip to the Shore Road to watch their side.

After an evenly fought first 30 minutes, it was Crusaders who broke the deadlock with a superb diving header from Jordan Owens on 35 minutes, which put the Hatchetmen 1-0 ahead.

Now a goal down, Linfield looked to lose heart and failed to rise to the occasion, an all too familiar occurrence which was prevalent towards the second half of last season.

Before long, Crusaders doubled their lead as Eamon McAllister’s in-swinging corner met the head of Owens who also doubled his tally.

It was Stephen Baxter’s men who came away with the three points as Linfield suffered their worst start to a league campaign in over 15 years.

Crusaders’ bitter rivals Cliftonville played out a six goal thriller as they overcame Warrenpoint Town 4-2 away from home.

Stephen Hughes put the league’s new boys ahead with a fine strike that squeezed past Conor Devlin’s near post.

Before Town could get carried away with their lead against the reigning champions, Joe Gormley converted from a terrific solo run to level the score on 24 minutes.

The Reds soon found themselves in the lead for the first time in the clash, as Ryan Catney smashed his effort into the top corner from outside the box, bringing the score to 2-1.

On the hour mark, Warrenpoint were awarded a penalty after Stephen Garret looked to uphold Stephen McCabe. It was McCabe who stepped up to take the spot-kick and successfully converted to put the hosts back into the game.

With the game at 2-2, Cliftonville responded by dramatically increasing their tempo. Gormely’s free kick found the back of the Warrenpoint net and the man nicknamed; ‘The Goal’, claimed his hat-trick with a third strike, making it 3 wins out of 3 in the end for Cliftonville.

Meanwhile, Ards have found life back in the top flight rather difficult. The County Down side, who returned to the Premier Division for the first time since 2006, suffered their third straight league defeat after losing 2-0 to Portadown at Shamrock Park. Niall Currie’s side now find themselves in the bottom spot and yet to secure any points.

Elsewhere, village outfit Ballinamallard United held Glentoran to a 0-0 draw at The Oval. After failing to secure a last ditch equaliser in Dungannon last week, The Mallards pulled off a valiant defensive display to secure a valuable point on the road.

Meanwhile, Dungannon Swifts suffered their first defeat of the season at the Ballymena Showgrounds. Alan Taggart’s corner met the head of Alan Jenkins to put the Sky Blues in front.Despite an equaliser from Darren Boyce’s free kick, the visitors could were not level for long as Shane Dolan soon found the net for Ballymena as Glenn Ferguson’s side came out as 2-1 victors.

And finally, Friday night’s clash proved to be an exciting affair as evenly matched Glenavon and Coleraine played out a 2-2 draw at Mourneview Park.

Known as the ‘drawing specialists,’, Coleraine looked determined to shrug off their unfavourable tag as Gary Browne fired the visitors in front.

However, Guy Bates grabbed an equaliser for Glenavon before veteran striker, Davy Rainey fired the Lurgan Blues in front during the second half.

With the encounter approaching injury time, 18 year old Joel Bradley rose to the occasion to fire home his effort, making it 3 draws out of 3 for the Bannsiders.