Larne close on title as Linfield draw with Crues

Larne hold a seven-point lead with four matches remaining

Larne took a big step towards a first Irish Premiership title with a 2-0 win over Glentoran as nearest rivals Linfield drew 0-0 with Crusaders.

There was also big results at the bottom of the table as 10-man Newry City beat Carrick Rangers 2-0 and Dungannon Swifts drew 1-1 at Glenavon.

Bottom side Portadown beat Ballymena United 1-0 to move within five points of the Swifts.

Ronan Hale scored an injury-time equaliser as Cliftonville drew 2-2 with Coleraine in an entertaining match, a result which all but ends the Reds' hopes of winning the Gibson Cup.

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League leaders Larne stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points after a 2-0 victory over Glentoran at Inver Park.

The hosts started the brighter and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Tomas Cosgrove's cross was diverted into the path of Michael Glynn by Paul O'Neill and the left back cooly slotted past Aaron McCarey to give his side the lead.

Tiernan Lynch's men doubled their lead minutes later when Glynn turned from goalsorer to provider. The winger's cross found striker Lee Bonis who took the ball down, turned in the penalty area and fired into the top corner as Inver Park erupted.

Larne had further chances to add to their lead in the second half when Leroy Millar crossed the ball along the six-yard area to be slotted home but he failed to find a red shirt, and Bonis would miss a guilt edge chance to wrap up the game in the 82nd minute when he shot wide from six-yards when it looked easier to score following Cosgrove's superb cross.

Glentoran did have the ball in the Larne net in stoppage time but Conor McMenamin was adjudged to have been offside as the hosts took a big step towards the title.

More to follow.