Larne return to top of the table as Crues beat Carrick

Lowry struck the winner for Crusaders late in the first half

Larne returned to the top of the table with a routine 4-1 victory against Glenavon at Inver Park.

A Phillip Lowry goal helped Crusaders to get back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 win against Carrick Rangers.

Struggling Newry City played out a 0-0 draw against 10-man Ballymena United at a wet and blustery Showgrounds.

Super second half from Larne

An early Leroy Millar strike in the first half, with goals from Lee Bonis, Andy Ryan and Paul O'Neill in the second half, secured the comprehensive win for Larne at Inver Park.

It took just nine minutes for the hosts to open the scoring, as the lively Millar was on hand to head home from close range.

Millar caught the visitors sleeping from a corner, nipping in front of his man to give the home side the lead.

The hosts upped the tempo in the second half, before doubling their lead nine minutes after the restart.

Bonis did extremely well to control Mark Randall's perfectly weighted pass before chipping the onrushing Rory Brown to find the back of the net.

Just two minutes later it was three for the Inver Reds. This time it was Ryan, who was in acres of space at the back post, tapping in from close range to score his eighth league goal of the season.

Gleanvon did pull one back through substitute Aaron Prendergast, but Larne regained their three goal advantage moments later with O'Neill getting in on the act in the 90th minute to secure all three points for the champions.

Crues edge Carrick

In the 6th minute at Taylors Avenue, referee Ian McNabb awarded the home side a penalty after Ben Tilney fell under the challenge of BJ Burns.

However, Jonny Tuffey dived the right way and saved David Cushley's resulting spot-kick to deny Carrick Rangers an early lead.

Tuffey kept the game scoreless and made two superb saves in the first half. The first, to stop Tilney's effort from range and the second, when he tipped Danny Purkis' goal-bound effort over the crossbar.

Carrick Rangers' goalkeeper Ross Glendinning was also called into action and produced a superb reflex save to palm away Paul Heatley's strike.

Stephen Baxter's men opened the scoring just before the break when, in the 45th minute, Lowry controlled Jarlath O'Rourke's low cross, cut in from the left channel and fired a strong strike into the bottom right-hand corner from just outside the box.

It was a quieter second half, with the home side struggling to create chances to level the game.

Crusaders attempted to make their lead more comfortable with Heatley cleverly playing the ball across the face of goal, but substitute Adam Lecky, who was under pressure from Steven Gordon, couldn't steer home from close range.

During the seven minutes of additional time, Carrick Rangers had multiple chances to grab a late equaliser, but neither Cushley or Reece Glendinning could keep their efforts on target.

The victory moves Stephen Baxter's side to within six points of third-place Cliftonville, who play Glentoran on Saturday.

Scrappy affair at the Showgrounds

The bottom two sides Newry City and Ballymena United shared a goalless draw at the Newry Showgrounds in a result that benefits Dungannon Swifts the most.

The conditions were atrocious with swirling wind and rain resulting in a boggy pitch that was not conducive to free-flowing football.

Despite this, both sides had chances in the first half. Isaac Westendorf will feel he should have had at least one goal, twice going through one-on-one, but was he denied once by Newry goalkeeper Steven Maguire and then by a goal line clearance by Barney McKeown.

Brian Healy then had an effort well blocked by Steven McCullough just before the break.

The second half was a much scrappier affair as the rain continued to fall with chances at a premium.

Ballymena's Lewis Tennant saw red for a lunge on Newry substitute Adam, Carroll just after the hour mark, but the hosts could not capitalise, despite some late pressure.

Gary Boyle's side's winless league run extends to eight games whilst Ballymena have failed to score in their last five.