NIFL Premiership Round-up - Week 10

Linfield went top of the Danske Bank Premiership for the first time this season, after a 3-1 victory away to Glenavon.

Despite making a slow start to the campaign, the Blues have now recorded six wins in the past six and lead the Northern Irish league by one point with Portadown in second.  

Glenavon took the lead at Mournview Park when Guy Bates’ header caught Linfield keeper, Jonathan Tuffey, off guard.

Linfield responded when Michael Carvill pounced on the end of Andrew Waterworth’s deflected effort to make the score 1-1 five minutes before the break.

In the second half, Waterworth converted from the penalty spot after Michael Gault was brought down by Gareth McKeown, while Philip Lowry finished the scoring to give the Windsor Park club a 3-1 away victory.

In the North Belfast derby, Cliftonville continued their slump in form as the Reds were defeated 2-0 by rivals, Crusaders, at Solitude.

After a scoreless first half, Paul Heatly slotted home his solo effort to send the travelling Crues fans into the raptures. The Hatchetmen then struck the shell shocked Cliftonville side two minutes later as Jordan Owens headed in Declan Caddel’s cross to make the score 2-0.

The result sees Crusaders extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Meanwhile, Portadown slipped to second place in the league as they failed to beat lowly Warrenpoint Town.

Warrenpoint took The Ports by surprise as Daniel Hughes and Ruiari Devlin fired the home side 2-0 in front shortly after 30 minutes.

However, the Shamrock Park club regrouped in the second half with goals from Peter McMahon and Darren Murphy sparing blushes.

Furthermore, despite gaining three points over Ballinamallard United last week, Ards suffered another defeat, with the North Down club only registering 6 points from the first 10 games.

Coleraine took the lead through the penalty spot in the second half as Ruairi Harkin coolly slotted home. Shane Jennings soon doubled the lead for the Bannsiders with his volley before Paul McDowell grabbed a consolation for the basement club.

Elsewhere, Glentoran recorded their first win in five games with a 2-1 win over Dungannon Swifts at The Oval while Ballinamallard moved above Ballymena United with a 1-0 victory in Friday night’s encounter at Ferney Park.