Linfield stay five clear as Gormley nets hat-trick

Linfield beat Ballymena United 2-0 at Windsor Park to remain five points clear at the top of the Irish Premiership table while Joe Gormley scored a hat-trick to help second-placed Cliftonville defeat Dungannon Swifts 4-1.

Substitute Rhys Annett headed home for Linfield within a minute of being introduced as a second half substitute after visiting defender Stephen O'Donnell had been sent-off for two bookable offences.

Kirk Millar swept home the league leaders' second in the final minute.

Glentoran moved up to third place with a 3-0 win over Glenavon at Mourneview Park and Crusaders went fifth with a 3-1 home success over Loughgall.

Shay McCartan salvaged a point for Portadown against Carrick Rangers with a stunning last-gasp strike after his own goal had given their opponents the lead at Shamrock Park, 1-1 the final score at Shamrock Park.

Linfield extended their outstanding league record against Ballymena in recent years as they made it 26 wins from their last 29 top flight outings against the Sky Blues.

The victory was a particularly welcome one for the hosts as they had lost three of their last four Premiership games at Windsor Park and it consolidated their advantage at the summit.

For Ballymena, it was a fourth straight defeat in the top division without scoring a goal. The Braidmen have won eight and lost eight of their 16 fixtures.

The turning point of the game came 20 minutes from time as O'Donnell received a red card after a handball saw him receive a second yellow.

Annett's impact off the bench was immediate as he headed in from a Kirk Millar cross on 78 minutes.

Millar got on the end of a long ball from Chris Shields and slotted home coolly.

David Healy's side next face Larne next Saturday.

Cliftonville produced a clinical display at Stangmore Park despite finding themselves behind in the 21st minute when Gael Bigiramana's deflected long-range effort beat David Odumosu after James Knowles' initial shot was blocked by Conor Pepper.

The Reds' response was immediate, with Taylor Stevens providing an inviting cross from the right flank for Joe Gormley to head past Declan Dunne from close range less than sixty seconds later.

The momentum stayed with Jim Magilton's charges, and Stevens turned from provider to scorer in the 34th minute, finding the far corner following Rory Hale's short corner despite Dunne getting a hand to the effort.

The north Belfast side extended their advantage shortly before the interval when Dunne fouled Hale in the box following Aaron Pettifer's through ball.

Gormley stepped up and gave his side a two-goal cushion, sending the Swifts goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The hosts' best chance to reduce the deficit came when Knowles broke clear in the 50th minute, but Jonny Addis's perfectly timed sliding challenge denied a certain goal.

Talisman Gormley completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute, expertly converting Hale's precise cross from close range as the Reds dominated.

At Mourneview Park, Daniel Amos' first half strike and Finley Thorndike and Dylan Connolly's goals in the second half handed Glenavon their third defeat in a row in all competitions and leave them without a league win in five matches.

Glentoran pick up a precious three points after two defeats in the top flight to jump from seventh spot to third in the standings.

David Fisher's pass to Connolly down the right-hand side was perfectly weighted, with Connelly pulling the ball back to Amos inside the edge of the box, who fired high into the top left-hand corner for the opener.

After the interval it took just two minutes for the Glens to double their lead as Thorndike found the bottom corner with a neat first-time finish after a loose ball found its way into his path following an Aaron Wightman cross that Barney McKeown failed to fully clear.

The visitors wrapped up the three points as Keith Ward's pass to Gareth Deane was intercepted by Connolly, who rounded Deane before passing the ball into the back of the net to secure a 3-0 win.