Northern Ireland round-up: Glentoran edge ahead

Glentoran FC stole a march on title rivals Portadown FC on Tuesday evening, thanks to a 3-0 home win over Cliftonville FC.

Smith double
Former Glenavon FC striker Andy Smith opened the scoring after eight minutes and Darren Armour doubled Glentoran's lead before the break. Smith clinched the points with his second of the game after 71 minutes to move his side three points ahead of Portadown at the top of the Northern Irish Premier Division. Both sides have now played 23 games, while Coleraine FC sit a distant third, 19 points behind Glentoran.

Linfield humbled
Former champions Linfield FC were humbled 2-0 by lowly Institute FC at Drumahoe thanks to a double from Stuart Bratton. Nevertheless, Linfield remain in fifth place and will be hoping to stay there when the Premier Division splits into two mini-leagues in a few weeks' time.

Lisburn suffer blow
Lisburn Distillery FC's top-six aspirations suffered a blow following their shock 1-0 home defeat against Ards FC. Gareth McKeown's 25-metre drive six minutes before the end was enough to give Frankie Parks' side the points.

Comfortable win for Portadown
Meanwhile, in the night's Irish Cup fifth-round replay games, Vinny Arkins scored a hat-trick as Portadown FC beat Ballymena United FC 6-0. Portadown will now face Knockbreda Parish FC in the sixth round after the little-known amateur league side overcame Newry Town FC 2-1 thanks to two goals from Dermot Owens.