Northern Ireland round-up: Resounding wins for top two

Glentoran FC maintained their nine-point advantage at the top of the Northern Irish Premier Division with a comfortable 4-0 win at fifth-placed Omagh Town.

Early dominance
Glentoran took control of the match from the first whistle and were much too strong for an Omagh team that had defeated Linfield FC in a rearranged Irish Cup game less than 48 hours earlier. Glentoran took the lead after three minutes, with striker Andy Smith heading in a Gary Smyth free-kick, before the same player doubled the lead, meeting a Scott Young cross with a looping header.

Spectacular third
Darren Lockhart sealed all three points before half-time, scoring his side’s third with an acrobatic left-foot volley. Glentoran continued to dominate the match in the second period, but had only Colin Nixon’s goal, from another Young cross, to show for their efforts.

Arkins on target
Second-placed Portadown FC also enjoyed a comfortable away victory, winning 5-0 at Crusaders FC. Vinny Arkins put the away side in front after 20 minutes and it was 2-0 on the stroke of half-time thanks to substitute Kyle Neill.

Late goals
Crusaders defender Paul Muir made it 3-0 just before the hour, heading a Gary Hamilton cross into his own net, before goals in the last ten minutes from replacement Gary McPhee and Hamilton completed a comfortable victory.

Resounding win
Elsewhere, Linfield enjoyed a 4-0 win against bottom side Newry Town FC. Pat Wall opened the scoring with a composed finish after 20 minutes, before Glenn Ferguson added a hat-trick before half-time. Linfield’s victory was marred by the 57th-minute dismissal of central defender William Murphy.

Institute blow
Institute FC‘s hopes of claiming a place in the championship group when the league divides after the 33rd round of matches suffered as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at third-placed Coleraine FC. Francis Murphy scored the only goal of the game ten minutes after half-time, while Institute lost Adrian Creane to a late red card.

Important win
Lisburn Distillery FC drew 1-1 with Cliftonville FC, while Glenavon FC moved further away from relegation trouble with a 3-0 victory against Ards FC. Second-half goals from Paul Keenan and two from Marc McCann gave the home side three important points.