Dankse Bank Premiership Round Up 20th February

Crusaders remain seven points clear at the top of the Dankse Bank Premiership after a pulsating derby victory over Cliftonville at Seaview.

The result strengthens the Crues chances of successfully retaining the Gibson Cup but also all but ends their opponent’s title aspirations as they now trail the Crues by twelve points.

The Crues victory came courtesy of a third minute goal from winger Paul Heatley after he finished a superb through ball from Billy Joe Burns. Crusaders were reduced to ten men in the second half as Burns was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Despite their numerical advantage, Cliftonville could not find the breakthrough although The Reds were incensed that referee Ross Dunlop turned down two penalty appeals in the second half.

Linfield stayed on Crusaders coat-tails after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory at Coleraine. David Healey’s men found themselves 2-0 down in the first half after goals from Coleraine’s Ian Parkhill and Brad Lyons. Aaron Burns pulled a goal back just before half time and then a second half double from defender Mark Haughey gave the Blues a vital victory.

Glenavon remain in fourth place and are now just a point behind Cliftonville after their 4-1 derby victory over Portadown. Glenavon raced into a two goal lead thanks to Kevin Braniff and Eoin Bradley’s goals. The Ports pulled a goal back through Chris Casement before Bradley and Andy Kilmartin restored Glenavons’s two goal advantage. To compound Portadown’s misery in the second half they had midfielder Robert Garrett sent off for a second yellow card and lost goalkeeper David Miskelly to a head injury.

In the battle to avoid relegation, the bottom four clubs once again faced each other in the weekend’s fixtures. Warrenpoint Town’s recent revival continued as they moved off the bottom of the table for the first time this season after their 1-0 victory away to Carrick Rangers on Friday night. A second half goal from Conor McDonald gave Warrenpoint a crucial victory which saw them leapfrog above Carrick at the bottom of the table.

Dungannon Swifts eased their relegation worries after a 2-0 home win over Ballinamallard United at Stangmore Park. Alan Teggart and Ryan Harpur got the goals for the Swifts. It was a second successive home win for Dungannon who overtake Ballinamallard in the table moving up to ninth.

The weekend’s other game saw Glentoran defeat Ballymena United 2-0 at The Oval thanks to first half goals from Jonathon Smith and Ciaran Caldwell. The Glens remain in sixth place with a second win in a week easing some of the pressure on manager Alan Kernaghan. However for Ballymena it was a fourth successive league defeat and the Sky Blues will need an urgent upturn in fortunes if they are to avoid being sucked into the relegation battle.