NIFL Premiership Round-up - Week 6

Gameweek 6 of the Dankse Bank Premiership boasted one of the most bizarre results in modern-day Northern Irish domestic football.

Portadown put Ballinamallard United to the sword with an 11-0 drubbing at Shamrock Park, a tally made all the more astonishing considering the County Fermanagh side had been praised for their recent defensive efforts in the opening five games of the season. The result marked the largest defeat of an Irish League side since 1966 when Distillery, then based in Belfast, defeated Bangor by the same score line.

Peter McMahon kicked off the gluttony of goals when the ex-Bohemian’s player pounced onto the end of Gary Twigg’s rebounded effort. In total, both Twigg and Kevin Braniff bagged themselves a hat-trick, while McMahon and Darren Murphy grabbed two respectively with Ryan McStay also getting his name on the score sheet.

The result now sees Portadown occupy second place in the table, boasting a superior goal difference compared to their title rivals.

Elsewhere, Cliftonville moved back to the top spot following their 1-0 win away to Ballymena United. After losing two games on the trot to Portadown and Coleraine respectively, the Reds got back to winning ways as Joe Gormley spotted United goalkeeper, Dwayne Nelson off his line and went for glory. The striker executed a delicate lob to grab his 8^th goal of the season and what was the only goal of the game in the second minute at The Showgrounds.

Despite starting the campaign rather slowly, Linfield have looked to get back to winning ways and recorded their second league win on the bounce with a 3-1 away win over Ards at Dixon Park. The result now sees the North Down side in last place but on equal points with Warrenpoint Town.

It was Linfield who opened the scoring on 6 minutes with Aaron Burns’ superbly taken effort. However, Ards soon hit back when the Red & Blues were awarded a penalty with Sean Ward bringing down Craig McMillen in the box.  James Cully stepped up and equalised from the spot.

A chorus of boos echoed at half-time from the Linfield faithful who expected to see another Blues’ performance that seemed to lack hunger and grit. But David Jeffery’s men did respond in the second half as Michael Carvill’s cross met the head of Matthew Tipton, who put the Blues in front just before the 70 minute mark. The Blues did not stop there as another Michael Carvill assist this time met the head of Aaron Burns who grabbed his second goal of the game and earning the Windsor Park club their second league win of the season.

Linfield’s result now sees them on level points with fellow slow starters, Crusaders, who are also adjusting back to winning ways. The North Belfast club recorded an outstanding 3-0 away win against a resurgent looking Glentoran, which saw the Glens knocked off the top spot.

Colin Coates, grabbed the opening goal from Chris Morrow’s free kick before the skipper doubled his tally again from yet another set piece from Morrow. Jordan Owens then sealed a priceless away win at The Oval with the Hatchetmen’s third goal of the game, a result which saw The Glens lose their first of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Glenavon’s valiant start to the season now sees them sit in third place, just one point behind leaders, Cliftonville.

The Lurgan Blues now have 17 goals after the first 6 games and looked dangerous as ever in attack with a 3-1 victory over newcomers,  Warrenpoint Town. After going 1-0 down to a Stephen  McCabe penalty, the Lurgan club responded with Mark Patton grabbing the equaliser before Guy Bates hit a double to see the home side run out as 3-1 winners.

And finally, it looks as if Coleraine have now managed to shrug off their unwanted ‘drawing specialists’ tag, but not in the fashion that Oran Kearney would have liked on Saturday.

On the back of their exceptional 3-1 away win to reigning champions Cliftonville, Coleraine entered their game against Dungannon Swifts with much optimism and their unbeaten record still in tact. But the Swifts pulled off a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Chris Lavery goal, which now sees the County Tyrone side in fourth spot.