NIFL Premiership Round-up - Week 12

Ards marked their return to Clandeboye Park with a 3-1 win over title chasers, Portadown.

The North Down club had been playing their home games at Ballyclare’s Dixon Park while a new 3G pitch was being laid in Bangor.

After a quiet first half, Andy Mitchell put the hosts in front five minutes after the break and Ards doubled their lead when William Faulkner converted his effort past Port’s keeper, David Miskelly.

Portadown looked as if they were back in the game when Darren Murray slotted his penalty past Graeme McKibbon on 74 minutes, but Ards sealed their third victory of the season when James Cully converted his last minute spot kick to put the Red and Blues on equal points with Warrenpoint Town at the bottom of the table.

Warrenpoint, who edge Ards by a slightly superior goal difference, pulled off a shock away draw against reigning champions, Cliftonville.

Town were granted a penalty just before the break when Chris Curran was judged to have handled the ball in the area. Stephen McCabe stepped up to take the spot kick but blasted his effort over the bar.

Warrenpoint looked to be the more threatening of the sides in the second half and Daniel Hughes put the visitors in front, profiting from a miss-hit back pass from Ryan Catney. But Town’s dream lead did not last long as Martin Murray equalised for the home side on 80 minutes to ensure that the points were shared at Solitude.

Meanwhile, Glentoran recorded their third victory on the trot with a rare away win at Coleraine.

It was the Bannsiders who took the lead courtesy of an own goal from Kevin Bradley before half time.

But the Glens responded by clinching three goals in the second half. Jim O’Hanlon, Mark Miskimmon and John McGuigan converted in front of the travelling support to secure a 3-1 triumph, which now sees the East Belfast side on equal points with Portadown.

After an emphatic 4-2 win over local rivals Portadown on Monday, Glenavon lost out to village outfit, Ballinamallard United at Mourneview Park.

After a strong opening performance, Kyle Neill broke the scoring for the home side with an unexpected goal from the corner flag.

In the second half, the Mallards equalised with Brian Campbell profiting from a goal mouth scramble before Irish League veteran, William Murphy, headed home to put the Lurgan Blues back in the driving seat.

However, a powerful free kick from Cathal Beacom saw the visitors equalise for the second time in the clash, while Josh McIlwaine got the better of yet another goal mouth scramble late on to steal three points for the ‘Mighty Ducks.’

Elsewhere, Ballymena United recorded their first win since the beginning of September in a five goal thriller against Dungannon Swifts at Stangmore Park.

Gary Ligget fired the visitors into the lead after a valiant solo run, while Gary Thompson doubled the tally for the Sky Blues.

Stefan Lavery pulled one back for the Swifts before United skipper, Allan Jenkins, put the visitors 3-1 in front before the break.

Despite Darren Boyce getting his name on the score sheet for the hosts in the second half, it was Ballymena United who ran out 3-2 winners.

And finally, Linfield’s draw against Crusaders was enough to see the Windsor Park side go four points clear at the top of the NIFL Premiership table.

The Blues had won their previous seven games going into the encounter but their winning streak came to an end with a 0-0 draw in South Belfast.

Crusaders were reduced to 10 men after Declan Caddell was shown red for a second bookable offence after his challenge on Linfield midfielder, Jamie Mulgrew.