There were wins for Ballymena United, Coleraine and Larne on Saturday afternoon.
Dungannon Swifts 0 Ballymena United 3
Ballymena’s Success Edogun celebrates his goal against Dungannon Swifts
Dungannon Swifts’ top-six hopes took a blow after a home defeat to Ballymena.
They played 77 minutes with 10 men after an early red card for goalkeeper Declan Dunne.
Patrick McEleney gave the Sky Blues the lead moments later, and Rodney McAree’s side never recovered.
Second half goals from Jordan McMullan and Success Edogun wrapped it up.
The game got off to a disastrous start for Dungannon, who soon found themselves a goal down – and a player down.
Calvin McCurry chased a pass forward and Dunne came out to intercept, taking down the forward. Referee Michael McKenna went to his back pocket, producing a straight red for the goalkeeper.
But there was further punishment to come as, from the free-kick, McEleney curled a splendid free-kick past Alex Henderson, only just on.
Yet Dungannon recovered, regrouped and really should have been level at the break.
Dean Curry’s shot on the volley was blocked by a defender while Danny Wallace’s strike was well stopped by Sean O’Neill.
The best chance came when Andrew Mitchell stretched to meet Wallace’s cross, but his header was blocked on the line by Stephen O’Donnell.
Ballymena needed the comfort of a second and it came six minutes after the restart.
Daniel Lafferty crossed, Edogun held the ball up and McMullan swept home with a fine strike.
That killed off much of the Swifts’ threat, although Adam Glenny went close with a late header.
Edogun wrapped it up 10 minutes from the end, rounding the goalkeeper before driving home a low strike.
Glenavon 0 Coleraine 1
Glenavon’s Jack Malone and Coleraine’s Levi Ives
Coleraine picked up their first win at Mourneview Park in six years as super-sub Declan McManus netted a sublime free-kick to make it three victories in a row for the Bannsiders.
Both teams cancelled each other out in the first-half, with Glenavon being denied on the goal line as Coleraine defender Charles Dunne somehow cleared the ball to safety from a home set-piece.
Coleraine had the best chances thereafter in a lacklustre contest as Jamie Glackin and Matthew Shevlin were thwarted by Tadhg Ryan as a draw looked inevitable.
However, McManus – who joined in the January transfer window from The New Saints – had different ideas as his free-kick from 30 yards sailed into the back of the net as Coleraine soared into the top-six.
Loughgall 0 Larne 1
Loughgall’s Robbie Norton with Larne’s Tiarnan O’Connor
An early goal from Paul O’Neill was enough for Larne to leave Lakeview Park with three points and lift them to third in the Premiership.
The visitors threatened to run riot in the opening exchanges, but couldn’t add to their lead against their managerless hosts despite have a number of chances.
Robbie Norton saw red midway through the second half for Loughgall, but the home side fought hard until the end and remain 12 points off the pace at the foot of the table.
Caretaker boss David Johnstone will no doubt be pleased with the effort he saw from his players as they aim to finish the season with some pride.
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