Northern Ireland round-up: Portadown pull away

Portadown FC won 3-2 on Saturday to pull four points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the Irish league.

Portadown make their mark
A 3-2 win at Glenavon FC made Portadown the only side out of the top four to win on Saturday. All the goals came in a frantic half-hour period either side of the interval. Leading scorer Vinny Arkins put the Ports ahead with the opener after half an hour but Dean Smith levelled for Glenavon within three minutes. Kyle Neill restored the visitors' lead with a curling shot and Arkins put them two goals clear when he converted a penalty awarded after Nevin Riches fouled Peter McCann. Conor Forker pulled a goal back for the home side with a 56th-minute header but Portadown hung on for victory.

Linfield held by Glentoran
Champions Linfield FC had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Glentoran FC despite being ahead twice at Windsor Park. The on-form Chris Morgan put Linfield ahead in the 38th minute but Mark Glendinning equalised seven minutes after the break. Midway through the second period Morgan restored Linfield's lead, heading home a Jamie Marks cross but the visitors earned a point when midfielder Marty Hunter levelled again.

No luck for Coleraine
Coleraine FC's title hopes suffered a serious blow when they lost 3-2 at Omagh Town FC, a result that leaves Coleraine in fourth place, seven points off the top having played two more games than Portadown. Cliftonville FC cruised to a 3-0 win over Crusaders FC at Solitude.