Crusaders 2-0 Glentoran

Crusaders leapfrogged Glentoran into fifth place in the Premiership with a 2-0 win at Seaview.  David Rainey and Colin Coates had early chances for the Crues, but Leon Knight had a goal disallowed and Stephen Carson a shot cleared off the line. Timmy Adamson failed to make contact from close range, before Chris Morrow headed the ball in after 58 minutes. Andy Waterworth was denied a penalty, Jordan Owens headed wide and Rainey chipped the ball home in added time. Rainey missed a golden opportunity early on, while Knight was adjudged to have handled the ball, before smashing home. Morris made a fine save from Coates and Rainey headed over the bar. Carson went close, Adamson failed to connect and Morris made a further excellent stop from Rainey. Morrow made the best of a long ball into the area by putting the Crues in front, while Knight saw his header cannon off the woodwork. The frantic goalmouth action continued as Waterworth looked to be brought down in the area by Sean O'Neill, but the referee waved away penalty appeals. Owens failed to find the target from four yards out, but Rainey lobbed the ball over Morris to secure the points and earn his side a deserved victory

Cliftonville 4-3 Glenavon

Cliftonville ended their recent run of poor home Premiership form by beating Glenavon in an entertaining game. Mattie Burrows sidefooted the visitors in front on 17 minutes but Ciaran Caldwell found the net soon after. Chris Scannell volleyed home on 34 minutes and then Caldwell rifled the ball in from 12 yards before half-time. Scannell flicked the ball over Andy Coleman on 49, Burrows slotted in at the back post on 77 and Brian McCaul scored with an 87th-minute penalty. Coleman distinguished himself with a fine save from a Martin Donnelly curling 25-yard free-kick in the third minute. Ciaran Doherty set up Burrows for the opening goal, the former Glens forward slotting into the bottom corner of the net past Ryan Brown. Caldwell levelled by converting his seventh goal of the season after Scannell ran down the left, crossed and the ball was missed by Diarmuid O'Carroll. O'Carroll provided the right-wing cross for the first of Scannell's two strikes. After Caldwell's second, O'Carroll was again the provider for Scannell's next goal. Late goals by Burrows and McCaul were scant consolation for the relegation-threatened Lurgan Blues. Caldwell missed an opportunity to finish with a hat-trick as he missed a penalty in the dying seconds.

Ballymena Utd 1-1 Dungannon Swifts

Ballymena United and Dungannon Swifts drew 1-1 for third time this season in a stormy Showgrounds clash. Michael Funston put Swifts ahead in the 33rd minute, slotting into the empty net after Marc Brolly appeared to have fouled goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson. Gary McCutcheon levelled after 45 minutes when the ball fell to the striker following a Rory Carson corner. Ballymena's Tony Kane was red-carded on 76 minutes after striking out at Dungannon full-back JP Gallagher. Kane retaliated after he had been challenged by the Dungannon player and things threatened to boil over after that with several strong challenges going in. Before that, the big talking point had been Dungannon's disputed goal. Gallagher lofted a high ball into the goalmouth and Nelson seemed to have claimed it despite the challenge of Brolly. However, when Nelson hit deck the ball broke free and Funston was gifted with an open goal. Ballymena claimed it should not have stood, but Welsh referee Richard Harrington ruled that there had been no foul on the home keeper. Johnny Topley had a good early chance for Swifts but he sent his diving header wide. For Ballymena, Alan Davidson went close with a low free-kick and saw another effort saved by Niall Morgan. Alan Teggart was also denied by Morgan in the first period, before Funston and McCutcheon scored.

Carrick Rangers 3-1 Portadown

Portadown's slim title hopes suffered a massive blow after bottom club Carrick clinched their first home win of the season at the 18th attempt. Shane Dolan put Rangers ahead from a penalty awarded for a push on Paul Heatley, who collided with perimeter fencing and sustained a gashed leg. Ian West headed in to make it 2-0 and Gary Breen stabbed home to pull one back for an understrength Ports side. David Bell's superb 35-yard strike on 71 minutes sealed victory for Rangers. Portadown were missing nine first-team players and it showed as Carrick threatened in the first minute. Heatley was denied by keeper David Miskelly after 23 seconds while Ports midfielder Richard Clarke saw his shot fly just over. Miskelly came to his team's rescue again to keep out a Marcus Kane effort. Gartland made the push on Heatley which took the midfielder off the pitch and into fencing, causing a leg injury which resulted in the player being taken to hospital. Dolan despatched the resulting spot-kick before West, the substitute for Heatley, headed home at the far post from Kane's cross after 52 minutes. Breen gave the Ports hope on the hour mark when he connected with Gartland's nod across goal from a Shane McKinney free-kick. Bell's spectatular long-range shot and goal of the season contender left Miskelly motionless and eased Carrick nerves. Ports striker Matthew Tipton just had keeper Paul Murphy to beat late in the game but his weak shot was easily saved. Portadown remain nine points behind leaders Linfield, who have a game in hand, while Carrick stay bottom but are now within a point of Glenavon.