Q Radio Sport
Linfield are back on top of the Danske Bank Premiership following a weather affected weekend which saw two games fall by the wayside.
The Blues moved back to the summit on goal difference following a 1-0 defeat of Portadown at Windsor Park, with the only goal coming midway through the first half when Michael Ruddy turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Chris McKee.
On Friday night former leaders Glentoran fell to a 2-1 reversal away to Larne. Scoreless at the break, Lee Bonis edged Larne in front early in the second half before Rory Donnelly levelled with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. However Lee Lynch struck in the 87th minute to earn the points for the home side and move them temporarily into fourth spot.
However, they were leapfrogged again by Crusaders on Saturday afternoon after their 2-1 home win over Carrick Rangers. The sides traded goals around the hour mark as Adam Lecky's opener was cancelled out by a Robbie Weir own goal before, in the fifth minute of added time, Ben Kennedy knocked home the winner for Stephen Baxter's side.
Meanwhile, Ballymena United and Glenavon produced a six-goal thriller at The Showgrounds. Matthew Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for Glenavon on seven minutes but this was soon cancelled out by Mikey Place.
Conor Keeley then handed the Sky Blues the advantage in first half stoppage time only for the visitors to reply through Peter Campbell less than a minute into the second half. Conor McCloskey fired Glenavon back in front on 69 minutes but the spoils were ultimately shared when Paul McElroy bagged Ballymena's third with ten minutes remaining.
Three players were sent off as tempers flared - Keeley for Ballymena as well as Glenavon duo Danny Wallace and Robbie Garrett.
⚽️ UPDATE:
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 19, 2022
Ballymena 3-3 Glenavon
Crusaders 2-1 Carrick
Linfield 1-0 Portadown
Warrenpoint -P- Coleraine
O.G. sees Blues join Big Two rivals Glentoran on points at top - with a better goal difference. Ports remain in deep trouble at bottom. 3 off at Ballymena.#DanskeBankPrem
Two games fell foul of the weekend conditions, Dungannon Swifts v. Cliftonville on Friday evening and Warrenpoint Town v. Coleraine the following afternoon. No new dates have been confirmed so far for either game.
Linfield back in top spot after a 1-0 win against Portadown. Pic: David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press. Courtesy NIFL