Linfield were the big losers among the title contenders tonight with their 2-0 defeat by fellow challengers Crusaders seeing them drop down to third place.

Cliftonville saw off Glenavon to remain top and a point clear of Larne, who eased to victory over basement side Portadown.

Coleraine made it 13 games without defeat with a narrow victory over Carrick Rangers and Niall McGinn bagged a hat-trick as new Glentoran boss Rodney McAree made it two wins from two games with a 6-0 hammering of Dungannon Swifts.

Ballymena's home encounter with Newry kicked off 15 minutes because of traffic congestion and it ended in a Showgrounds stalemate.

That's all from us for now - thanks for your company.

A frustrating game ends with the scoresheet blank.

It's Newry's first draw of the league campaign.

More remarkably, it's the first time a Premiership match at Ballymena Showgrounds has finished nil-nil since March 2013!

Ronan Hale wraps up the win for Cliftonville with a late third in injury time.

Donal Rocks comes close to winning it with a curling shot which is tipped over by Ballymena keeper Sean O'Neill.

Matthew Fitzpatrick temporarily halved the deficit at Mourneview Park for the home side.

All over at the Coleraine Showgrounds where Coleraine bag all three points courtesy of Matthew Shevlin’s 79th minute goal.

Marty Gallagher, too, deserves a special mention, his save near the end ensuring a home win for Oran Kearney’s in-form Bannsiders.

Colin Coates grabbed Cliftonville's second after heading home from Ronan Doherty's cross.

A comfortable win for the title chasers and they move up to second and one point behind leaders Larne.

Cian Bolger and Joe Thomson with the goals against the basement boys.

The three points go to the league leaders Cliftonville in an exciting game here at Mourneview Park.

David Parkhouse opened the scoring in the first half, before Colin Coates doubled the visitors' lead.

Matthew Fitzpatrick gave Gary Hamilton's side a lifeline in the 90th minute, before Ronan Hale finished from close range to secure the points for the north Belfast side.

David McDaid drifts away from Ryan McGivern but his cross-shot sails across the face of goal with no takers.

There has been a noticeable lift in tempo from both sides in the last 10 minutes - will it produce a goal?

Rodney McAree's first home game in charge couldn't have gone much better as Glentoran claim a 6-0 victory, thanks to a hat-trick from Niall McGinn, a brace from Shay McCartan and an own goal.

Crusaders claim all three points at Seaview tonight with a 2-0 win over Linfield.

A Jordan Forsythe goal in the first half and a screamer from Philip Lowry in the second period was the difference between the two sides.

The Crues go level on points with David Healy's side and are just four points off pacesetters Cliftonville.

Newry scream for a penalty as the clear-rushing James Teelan and Ballymena keeper Sean O'Neill come together on the edge of the penalty area but referee Diarmuid Harrigan remains unmoved.

It's been an uneventful last ten minutes here at The Oval.

The only action to report is that Ryan Mayse has picked up a yellow card for the visitors.

Six minutes of additional time at Inver Park.

Linfield are piling the pressure on Crusaders, but are unable to find a way through as of yet.

Not long left for the Blues, with four additional minutes indicated by the fourth official.

Larne make another change with BJ Banda coming on to replace scorer Joseph Thomson.

Close for Ballymena as Jordan Gibson meets Kenny Kane's corner with a firm header but Donal Rocks heads the effort off the line.