Danske Bank Premiership Round-Up 13th February 2016

Cliftonville won the first major piece of silverware of the season on Saturday evening when they defeated Championship 1 side Ards 3-0 in the JBE League Cup Final at Solitude.

The Reds dominated for most of the game and secured the win thanks to goals from Martin Donnelly, David McDaid and Stephen Garrett, with former Derry City striker McDaid also having a first half penalty saved by Ards keeper Ryan Brown. Niall Currie’s Ards side battled hard but were left to rue missed chances just before and after the break which could have possibly seen them get back into the game.

It was a historic triumph for Cliftonville who became the first side to win the trophy four years in a row and it will surely give them a shot in the arm as they attempt to chase down Crusaders and Linfield at the top of the Dankse Bank Premiership.

There were five league games played over Thursday and Friday night and the results at the top end of the table certainly favoured Cliftonville as Crusaders and Linfield both failed to win.

Leaders Crusaders were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Glenavon on Friday evening but still managed to extend their lead at the top as Linfield were defeated by Portadown.

A thrilling game at Seaview saw Glenavon take a first half lead against the run of play through striker Eoin Bradley. Crusaders equalised in the second half through record goalscorer Jordan Owens header. Late in the game Bradley was sent off for Glenavon for an apparent head-butt on Crues skipper Colin Coates. If found to be the case the former Derry GAA player could miss up to eight games of Glenavon’s run in through suspension.

Linfield failed to take advantage of Crusaders dropping points as they slipped to defeat at Portadown. The Ports took a two goal lead thanks to goals from Mark McAllister and Phillip Lowry. The Blues were incensed by the awarding of the penalty which McAllister converted claiming that Marcio Soares of the Ports had dived. Portadown were reduced to ten men in the second half when former St Pats defender Ken Oman was sent off, but Linfield were only able to pull one goal back through Ross Clarke as the Ports held on for a first win in six league games.

The bottom four sides all faced each other and are now separated by just one point after Thursday and Friday’s results. Warrenpoint Town’s amazing recent revival continued after a 3-0 home win over Ballinamallard United. Goals from former Drogheda striker Tiarnan Mulvenna, Stephen Murray and Johnny McMurray moved the Bordermen to within a point of the three teams immediately above them.

On Thursday evening Carrick Rangers once again let a late lead slip at their temporary home of Seaview as they drew with Dungannon Swifts. They had taken the lead through Miguel Chines only for the Swifts to equalise through Terry Fitzpatrick. Rangers regained the lead through Conor McCloskey midway through the second half only for the Swifts to grab a late equaliser through Dougie Wilson.

The remaining game of the weekend was the Braid/Bann Derby at the Ballymena Showgrounds. Despite finishing the game with nine men Coleraine ran out 2-0 winners against Ballymena thanks to goals from Darren McCauley and James McLaughlin.