Ballymena stun Larne and Swifts see off Glentoran

Ballymena United surprised Irish Premiership champions Larne as Ben Kennedy’s Eighty fifth-minute close-range header gave the Sky Blues a 1-0 win at Inver Park on Saturday.

Kennedy’s fifth aim in as many league video games made it back-to-back victories for Ballymena within the prime flight whereas the Invermen have only one level to point out from their opening two outings as they sit 12 factors behind leaders Linfield with three video games in hand.

Dungannon Swifts made it three Premiership wins in a row as John McGovern’s Fortieth-minute strike at Stangmore Park gave his facet all three factors towards Glentoran, a consequence which sees Rodney McAree’s expenses draw degree on factors with their opponents on 10 factors from six matches.

Glenavon twice got here from behind to attract 2-2 with Loughgall at Mourneview Park, Jay Boyd and Jordan Gibson netting for the guests and Barney McKeown and James Doona on the right track for the hosts. All of the targets got here within the final quarter of the sport.

Eamon Fyfe’s second-half aim secured a 1-0 win for Portadown at Carrick Rangers, a primary triumph of the marketing campaign for Niall Currie’s males and a fourth straight league loss for Carrick.

Late Kennedy winner for Braidmen

In a poor opening 45 minutes, the primary significant effort didn’t come till stoppage time on the finish of the half, when Andy Ryan’s downward header from a Dylan Sloan cross was comfortably saved by United keeper Sean O’Neill.

The house facet nearly took the lead within the early minutes of the second half when Joe Thomson burst into the penalty space earlier than laying the ball off for Ryan, whose shot cannoned again off the crossbar.

Minutes later, defender Sam Todd discovered house on the again submit from a nook however his downward header was straight at O’Neill.

Ballymena’s first effort got here simply wanting the hour mark when Kennedy’s first-time effort was straight at Rohan Ferguson.

Substitute Conor McKendry produced a surging run and shot which O’Neill pushed away however no Larne participant was readily available to react and Danny Lafferty was capable of clear the hazard.

As the sport heading for stalemate, it was Ballymena who struck the decisive blow with 5 minutes left when Josh Carson’s inswinging nook was missed by Larne keeper Rohan Ferguson and Kennedy was readily available to nod residence.

McGovern strike decisive

The decisive second at Dungannon arrived within the Fortieth minute when John McGovern latched onto Kealan Dillon’s beautiful by ball earlier than leaving the Glens’ defence in his wake and clinically dispatching previous a helpless Daniel Gyollai for his second league aim of the season.

The east Belfast outfit had spurned a gilt-edged alternative earlier within the contest to take the lead, Kodi Lyons-Foster contriving to miscue from point-blank vary after Paddy McClean’s deft header from Danny Amos’ pinpoint nook.

The guests got here inside a whisker of parity on the stroke of half-time as Dylan Connolly thought he had equalised, just for Danny Wallace to provide a Herculean goal-line clearance, leaving the Glens’ devoted incredulous.

The hosts almost doubled their benefit by Dillon, whose venomous strike from vary whistled agonisingly over with minutes remaining.

Submit-interval, Rodney McAree’s expenses weathered the storm and stood sturdy, their resolute rearguard motion irritating the guests at each flip.

The Glens’ solely probability within the second half fell to David Fisher, who got here perilously near levelling proceedings within the 61st minute. His curling effort from the realm’s periphery narrowly evaded the highest nook.

Late aim feast at Mourneview

4 targets in 19 second-half minutes noticed Glenavon and Loughgall share the factors in a rip-roaring affair.

There was little in a low-key first half to trace on the drama to return after half-time however the recreation burst into life within the 67th minute when Boyd, solely on the pitch instead, blasted residence from 12 yards out after panic within the residence defence.

The guests’ lead lasted barely seven minutes as Glenavon defender McKeown rose highest contained in the penalty space to go residence Michael O’Connor’s lengthy throw-in.

Ten minutes later, the subs have been at it once more as Gibson pounced on a Boyd help to complete a blistering counter-attack from Dean Smith’s nicely organised facet.

And with simply 4 minutes of regular time remaining, one other sub, this time Glenavon’s Doona, did brilliantly to angle residence a fierce drive from contained in the field to degree for a second time.

There was nonetheless time for Loughgall to nearly pinch the factors with nearly the final kick of the sport as Tiernan Kelly’s low drive was brilliantly stored out by a full size diving save from Gareth Deane.

Ports clinch first win

The primary half at Taylors Avenue was a scrappy affair with little or no in the best way of goalmouth motion, although Portadown’s Josh Ukek got here the closest with a well-taken shot that Ross Glendinning needed to be at his finest to cease.

Portadown began the second half with far more depth they usually have been rewarded with a aim on the 69th minute.

From deep inside their very own half, Portadown fired a protracted ball into the trail of Fyfe.

Fyfe was too sturdy for Kurtis Forsythe, shrugging him apart, earlier than calmly slotting the ball under Ross Glendinning and into the Carrick Rangers internet.

Ryan Mayse then got here near grabbing a second for the Ports with a cross-come-shot that got here again off the crossbar.

With 5 minutes added on, Carrick Rangers made a late push and within the final motion of the sport, a number of gamers had half probabilities.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t sufficient to bother the Portadown defence or keeper Aaron McCarey.