Northern Ireland round-up: Title race hots up

Portadown FC and Glentoran FC both recorded comfortable victories tonight as the Irish League title race continues to heat up.

Crunch encounter approaches
Leaders Portadown will be aiming to protect their three-point advantage over Glentoran when the two meet in their next game. Both will go into the crunch encounter high on confidence - Portadown crushed Newry Town FC 6-1 at Shamrock Park while Glentoran won 2-0 at home to Omagh Town FC.
 
Portadown hit six
Portadown raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Gary Hamilton and Dean Fitzgerald goals, but David Ward reduced arrears to 2-1 at the break. However, four goals in six second-half minutes secured a stunning home victory. Hamilton grabbed his second in the 51st minute before Cullen Feeney, Hamilton for his hat-trick, and Peter McCann completed the scoring.
 
Lockhart opener
At the Oval, Glentoran were held 0-0 by Omagh until half-time. Darren Lockhart put the hosts in front six minutes into the second half before setting up Darren Armour for the clincher in the 77th minute.

Linfield go third
Elsewhere, Cliftonville FC recorded a 1-0 home win over bottom club Ards FC thanks to a 25th-minute goal from Pat Wall. Linfield FC beat Coleraine FC and moved above them into third spot with a 2-0 away victory at the Showgrounds, while Crusaders FC enjoyed a 2-0 home defeat of Glenavon FC.