Crues win to remain unbeaten as Glens see off Reds

Crusaders scored twice in as many second-half minutes to come from behind to beat Carrick Rangers 2-1 at Seaview and remain unbeaten in their four Irish Premiership games this season.

A Daniel Larmour goal and Kieran Offord's fourth in four matches saw the Crues bounce back from conceding Curtis Allen's early strike and move second in the table, three points behind leaders Linfield with a game in hand.

Across Belfast at the Oval, Jordan Jenkins' stunning early strike proved enough to secure a 1-0 win over Cliftonville, who tasted defeat for the first time this term.

The Glens move into third spot, level on points with Crusaders and the fourth-placed Reds.

Goals in either half from Gael Bigirimana and substitute John McGovern saw Dungannon Swifts see off Loughgall 2-0 at Lakeview Park, their second successive victory elevating them to fifth position.

Larne will belatedly begin the defence of the title they have won for the past two seasons when they face Coleraine at Ballycastle Road on Sunday (14:15 BST).

Carrick went in front in the seventh minute as former Seaview favourite Paul Heatley broke into a dangerous area before passing to Danny Gibson.

His shot was pushed away by keeper Jonny Tuffey but Allen reacted quickest to snap up the rebound.

Allen believed he had doubled his and Carrick’s tally on the half-hour when he poked home from close range after Cameron Stewart had headed down Mark Surgenor’s free kick but a late flag from the referee’s assistant cut short the celebrations.

The game swung dramatically in a two-minute spell just after the hour mark as Crusaders scored twice.

Firstly, Jarlath O’Rourke’s superb right-footed cross following a corner was met with a back post diving header by Larmour.

Then just two minutes later, Jordan Forsythe’s through ball split the Carrick defence and Offord ran through to find the net and condemn their opponents to a third consecutive defeat.

The pivotal moment unfolded just two minutes into Saturday's Oval encounter when Paddy McClean picked out Jenkins, who initially faltered in controlling it, but quickly atoned and launched a breathtaking volley into the top left corner, rendering David Odumosu helpless.

Buoyed by that early boost, Declan Devine's side sustained their offensive pressure, but the north Belfast outfit should have been level at half-time when Joe Gormley set up Ryan Markey, whose first-time shot from 12 yards was brilliantly blocked by Fuad Sule.

The Glens continued to threaten after the break, with the influential Dylan Connolly teeing up David Fisher, who found himself unmarked in the box. Fisher, however, was expertly thwarted by the impressive Odumosu.

Jim Magilton's charges refused to capitulate. They pressed for an equaliser, with Ryan Curran curling a shot narrowly wide in the 62nd minute, then later seeing his effort from 12 yards brilliantly blocked by James Singleton after being found in the area by Joe Gormley.

As the match drew to a close, the hosts had further opportunities to extend their lead through Connolly and Fisher but were denied. Devine's charges held firm to claim their first win at home and only their second win at home against the top six in their last 10 attempts.

A goal early in each half saw Dungannon record a first away win of the season, beating local rivals Loughgall 2-0.

Bigirimana headed the visitors in front after 38 minutes before McGovern sealed the points with a composed finish on the hour mark.

The visitors opened the scoring with a well-timed run into the box, Bigirimana getting on the end of an inviting Bobby-Jack McAleese cross to head home from six yards.

Ryan Waide had forced a fine save out of Swifts’ ‘keeper Grogan after a quarter of an hour as the hosts found the going tough against a well organised Dungannon defence.

At the other end Tomas Galvin wasted a glorious chance after the ball broke kindly to him inside the penalty area but inexplicably dragged his shot wide of the post with the goal gaping.

The Swifts doubled their lead on the hour mark and, again, McAleese was involved, creating space for himself on the edge of the Loughgall penalty area before squaring to McGovern, who had the simple task of finding the net from 10 yards.

Fellow second half replacement, Thomas Maguire, thought he had made it 3-0 in the closing stages but his low drive cannoned to safety off the foot of a post.