NIFL Premiership Round-up - Week 13

Game of the week in the Danske Bank Premier League took place at the Oval where Glentoran and Cliftonville played out a 1-1 draw in a bad tempered affair on Saturday afternoon.

The champions have had an indifferent start to their season and made the trip across Belfast with only one win in their last five league games while the Glens had recently come into some form, winning their last three games in a row. Both sides were denied penalty claims early on as Jim O’Hanlon was upended by Jamie McGovern but referee Mervyn Smith adjudged the foul took place on the edge of the Cliftonville box and awarded a free kick accordingly.

At the other end Joe Gormley went over under pressure from Jimmy Callagher but this time Smyth deemed that there was no infringement and awarded the home side a goal kick. The game stayed goalless until first half stoppage time when Mark Miskimmin tapped home Marcus Kane’s deflected shot to give the home side a just about deserved lead going into the break.

The match exploded into life on the hour mark when Stephen McAlorum was dismissed for a challenge on Cliftonville winger Chris Curran. McAlorum had only recently replaced Marcus Kane and the sending off left the Glentoran bench incensed as the tackle seemed little worse than many in the feisty encounter. Despite the loss the Glens came close to extending their lead as Jordan Stewart’s shot was scrambled off the goal line by the Reds defence.

The home support were further up in arms on 68 minutes when Smyth pointed to the spot after substitute Ciaran Caldwell was bundled over by Jimmy Callagher but Elliot Morris got down to save George McMullan’s spot kick. The champions recycled the possession and Caldwell blasted home the equaliser to leave both sides with a point that leaves Cliftonville in fifth position with Glentoran a point behind in sixth.

The Linfield bandwagon continues to roll as they ran out convincing 4-1 winners after their trip to the Showgrounds to face Ballymena United. Goals from Matthew Tipton, Andrew Waterworth, Aaron and BJ Burns were enough to power the Blues to their eighth victory in nine league games. A solitary David Cushley strike proved scant consolation for the hosts who are in tenth position with fourteen points from thirteen games.

Crusaders are up to second as two Paul Heatley goals were enough to see off Warrenpoint Town while a Darren Murray hat-trick helped Portadown to a 5-0 win over struggling Dungannon Swifts.

Elsewhere Glenavon moved back into third spot with a 2-1 win over Ards and Ballinamallard United and Coleraine played out a 1-1 draw that leaves the Mallards in seventh spot with Coleraine moving up one place to eighth.